Systemic approach for people living with dementia and their informal caregivers

The amount of people with dementia will increase the coming decades. People with dementia need support and care in everyday life, and they are dependent on informal care. Informal caregivers are in a transition from being a... [ view full abstract ]

The amount of people with dementia will increase the coming decades. People with dementia need support and care in everyday life, and they are dependent on informal care. Informal caregivers are in a transition from being a partner or child to being a caregiver. They perceive an increasing care-burden that puts them at risk of burn-out. The couple needs pro-active, dementia-oriented and person-centered support by competent professionals.
People with dementia have a need to maintain activity apart from or together with their caregivers. Maintenance of daily activities contributes to satisfying occupational engagement, better mood and social contacts. Recent health care policies focus on activating interventions, enhancing self management strategies for both person with dementia and the informal caregiver.
In working with these interventions occupational therapists have to be competent to enable mutual adjustment and to use a systemic approach.

Objectives workshop:
Participants increase knowledge and skills in working with persons with dementia and their informal caregivers using a systemic approach and activating interventions. The workshop focuses on maintenance of autonomy, support to maintain attachment in a changing relationship for the couple and a balance between doing together and time for themselves. Doing activities together may increase feelings of togetherness and attachment, where mutuality is not possible anymore.

Content workshop:
The workshop is based on the so-called ‘multi-track’-communication and factors for fit of dyadic, activating interventions. Participants will practice these themes with small cases, and evaluate its merits for occupational therapy interventions for people with dementia and their informal caregivers.