Using FRAME to adapt an evidence-based dyadic intervention program for people living with dementia in residential aged care: A pilot feasibility study.
Miia Rahja, Ann Pietsch, Helen Radoslovich and 4 others
PMID 38937870WHAT IT FOUND
Adapting the COPE program for aged care was feasible, with all five recruited dyads completing the intervention.
However, staff and families identified that success depends on engaging care home staff for continuity and introducing the program earlier in the resident's journey.
Key findings
01All five recruited resident-care partner dyads completed the adapted COPE program, achieving a 100% retention rate.
02Care home staff in the focus group expressed concern that the program was not feasible with current time and resource constraints without organisational support.
03Family care partners reported that the program would have been more valuable if accessed earlier after admission, as some felt their family member was too advanced in dementia to benefit.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study was a small pilot with only five dyads, so the results cannot be generalised. The study took place in a single aged care home, limiting the understanding of how it works in other settings. The fidelity checklist used by therapists was not validated. COVID-19 restrictions impacted the delivery of the program and recruitment, requiring unplanned adaptations. Care partners may not have been present enough to accurately report on the resident's daily engagement and quality of life.
Declared interests
One author (MR) is a member of the Editorial Board of the Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, though the manuscript was managed by the editor-in-chief to maintain process integrity.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the improvement in care partner wellbeing as evidence that the program effectively improves resident outcomes. The study was not powered to detect significant changes in resident outcomes, and the data on resident engagement and quality of life were mixed.