Abstract

Rationale: Current knowledge in experiences and potential benefits of group-based activity programmes on people with dementia and their caregivers is inconsistent, depending on the quality of interventions. Lacking standardisation in the programme’s content and structure, therefore, requires research in a structured group-based activity programme with more details. Objectives: This study explored perspectives of spouses of people with dementia and older volunteers about Stepping Stones, involving a theme-based activity group and a support group. Methodology: Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to analyse individual interview data with 12 people. Results: Findings suggest that (1) Stepping Stones promotes participation of people with dementia in a happy, comfortable and accepting environment; (2) Stepping Stones fulfils a deep need of family caregivers; (3) Stepping Stones is well organised with a purpose and expertise and (4) The partnership between the community and the university makes the programme unique. Conclusion: Programmes like Stepping Stones can be beneficial by promoting participation of people with dementia and fulfilling a need of caregivers. These findings contribute to evidence of group-based activity programmes, in which activities were well planned by a faculty and students in occupational therapy.

Description

Copyright: © 2018 Article reuse guidelines: sagepub.com/journals-permissions

Publisher

Sage

Date of publication

Spring 11-14-2018

Language

english

Persistent identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/10950/4327

Document Type

Article

Included in

Kinesiology Commons

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