Evaluation of an indigenous early intervention model for Chinese persons with early dementia

Abstract

Introduction: The World Health Organization considers Dementia as a public health priority. The ageing population logicaly implies a growing population in persons with Dementia. Tung Wah Group of Hospitals started the Circle of Care project in 209. Integrating the Chinese cultural concept of body and mind linkage, the organization developed an evidence-driven, culturaly sensitve and holistic intervention for persons with early Dementia. Aims: This study is to evaluate the efectivenes of this pilot care intervention. Methodology: The study adopted a quasi-experimental design. Al the older adults who joined the programme were invited to join the study as participants of the intervention group. Older adults with a compatible mental abilty recruited from a Day Care Centre in the same district were invited to join as participants of the comparison group. The participants in the intervention group were interviewed before the intervention (t0), right after the intervention (t1) and 3 months after the intervention (t2). Information was colected from the care-givers as wel. As for the participants in the comparison group, interviews were ofered at t0 and t2 only. Dependent variables include the cognitve abilty, physical abilty, quality of life and depresion of the older adults as wel as the perceived relationship betwen the older adults and the carers. Findings: Thirty-two older adults and 31 carers joined the intervention group with 2 older adults in the comparison group. The within group analysis of the intervention group showed statistical signifcant changes in the cognitve abilty, quality of life and depresed mod of the older adults. The betwen group analysis indicated diferences in expected direction. In particular, the changes in functional reach test, depresion and quality of life were with statistical signifcance. Conclusion: The pilot study shows that he intervention is efective.