ABSTRACT
@#Introduction: There are increasing trend in using information and communication technologies to enhance the deliverance of reminiscence work for people with dementia. Thus this study aimed to explore the feasibility of Digital Memory Album (DMA) to support reminiscence work and subsequently evaluate the psychosocial benefits of the DMA system for older adults with dementia living in community. Method: This was an exploratory case study involved five participants with mild to moderate dementia and their primary caregivers. Each participant had an opportunity to review their own life history using Life Review Experience Form (LREF) with the researcher for 8 consecutive weeks in which subsequently facilitated in development of a personalised digital life story. Caregivers provided additional information to support the development of DMA. The whole process was audio recorded. The digital life story was presented in multimedia format and displayed using the DMA. The DMA was given to the participants for review. Qualitative data was collected using semi structure questions with the participants and caregivers immediately after the completion of DMA and 6 weeks after having the DMA as a gift. Results: Analysis of the audio-records and interview data indicated that DMA promoted psychosocial wellbeing which included enjoyment, comfort, stimulate long term memory and enhanced communication and social interactions with family members and friends. Caregivers expressed the DMA helped them in recollecting the past and better understanding of their loved ones. It also reoriented their focus on their loved ones from their disability to the remaining strength. Conclusion: For the first time, this study demonstrates the feasibility of using DMA in improving the psychosocial wellbeing for people with dementia in Malaysia.
ABSTRACT
Caring for people with dementia is associated with multiple devastating social, financial, physical, and psychological challenges. There is strong evidence that multicomponent tailored caregiver intervention is effective in improving caregiver well-being and delaying institutionalization. In US, the government is actively funding for developing caregiver program and to prove its efficacy through randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to translate into practice. Even with the introduction of Korean Long-term Care Plan, still, the most of the patients with dementia are being cared by the family members. The distress of caregiving is enormous, but structured therapeutic intervention program which efficacy is proven through RCT is very insufficient in Korea. The purpose of this article is to review the caregiver intervention programs of ongoing clinical trials comparing US and Korea, and to propose a tailored, therapeutic intervention program (I-CARE; A multicenter, randomized trial to assess efficacy of therapeutic intervention programs for decreasing caregiver burden in dementia caregiver) for hospital-care in Korea.
Subject(s)
Humans , Caregivers , Dementia , Financial Management , Institutionalization , Korea , Long-Term CareABSTRACT
Dementia is a progressive brain dysfunction that leads to disintegration of ability to look after oneself and the need for community resources to minimise the resulting impact of the progressive disability. The various care services available in Singapore for elderly patients and their caregivers are: hospital based, community centrebased, community home-based, and nursing home based. New services for dementia care are: senior care centres (SCC), integrated community mental health and dementia support networks, and Community Intervention Teams (COMIT). The Mobile Eldercare Locator (MEL) enables users to search for health and social care services in Singapore based on specified eldercare needs of the individuals. Referral to community centre-based services such as day rehabilitation and dementia day care services and homecare services such as home nursing, home medical, and home therapy services are coordinated by AIC referral team. Family physicians can apply for such services either via hardcopy or online.