Promoting Meaningful Occupations for Individuals with Dementia in an Adult Day Care
Graduation Date
2010
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Document Form
Degree Name
Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy
Department
Occupational Therapy
Department or Program Chair
Ruth Ramsey, EdD, OTR/L
Thesis Advisor
Janis Davis, PhD, OTR/L
Second Advisor
Ruth Ramsey, EdD, OTR/L
Abstract
The purpose of this thesis project was to produce an educational manual for Senior Access: Adult Day Health & Alzheimer’s Care in San Rafael, California for persons with varying stages of memory loss. The manual was developed as a reference tool for staff members, providing information on the varying stages of dementia, evidence-based caregiver tactics for participant problematic behaviors, and meaningful, cost-effective activities that promote quality of life for participants. The author issued a needs assessment and project evaluation to four Senior Access staff members in the initial and final stages of manual development. Based on these results, the author added content on behavior management and activities, then delivered a completed manual to Senior Access for evaluation. Senior Access staff found the project to be readable, organized, understandable, useful, and both activity groups and behavior management techniques appropriate for facility participants.