Social Engagement and Meaningful Activities of Persons with Dementia: Some Best Practices in Kerala

Abstract

This study was conducted to explore the practical techniques and strategies identified anddeveloped by families for caring persons with dementia which will have a wider implications infamilies, institutional settings, developing training modules and practice guidelines in the field ofquality dementia care. It is a qualitative study using the case study pattern / design. The ambit /sphere of this study are the families of the Kottayam district of Kerala having persons withdementia, who are taken care of within the families. Purposive sampling was employedselecting six families with good care practices as samples for the case study. These familieswere selected by consulting doctors and social workers working in association with ARDSI(Alzheimer‘s Related Disorders Society of India), of the Kottayam Chapter. Primary data for thestudy was collected from the family members (primary caregivers) of the persons with dementiaand interview schedule was used for data collection. Even though the family caregivers inKerala are not trained for providing care they have developed their own strategies and techniquesto engage persons with dementia in activities that have some personal meaning and importance.All the good practices identified have already been proved effective by the families throughyears of practice, so these practices can be used in various different settings of dementia care forquality results.