Journal Article

DZNE-2025-01236

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Non-Medical Activities in Dementia Care in Germany: Use and Experienced Effects.

Rodriguez, F. S. (First author)DZNE* ; Ziegert, N.DZNE* ; Ross, S. D. (Last author)DZNE*

2025
Sage London

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1177/21501319251390081

Abstract: Previous studies have shown benefits through non-pharmacological interventions for people with dementia. Non-medical activities (i.e., activities outside the medical sector) may have similar effect. As little is known about the use and perceived effects of non-medical activities in dementia care, this study's aim was to obtain population-based descriptive information. A survey in the form of structured interviews was conducted with n = 134 stakeholders. Participants used on average 17.7 non-medical activities (i.e., social, leisure, and household activities). They reported perceiving effects for, on average, 85.1% of the activities, which were mostly effects on improvements in wellbeing, activation, and social health. Overall, a higher use of non-medical activities was significantly associated with perceiving more effects, especially on cognition and preserving abilities, and perceiving not knowing an activity as a barrier. However, this differed by stakeholder group: Perceiving effects on cognition was only significant for caregiving professionals. Further, for this group, feeling sufficiently trained for dealing with dementia and self-organizing/ self-financing activities was associated with a higher use. Overall, the results indicate that non-medical activities are an important component of dementia care that seem to come with important benefits.

Keyword(s): Humans (MeSH) ; Dementia: therapy (MeSH) ; Germany (MeSH) ; Male (MeSH) ; Female (MeSH) ; Middle Aged (MeSH) ; Aged (MeSH) ; Caregivers: psychology (MeSH) ; Leisure Activities (MeSH) ; Interviews as Topic (MeSH) ; Surveys and Questionnaires (MeSH) ; Alzheimer’s ; dementia ; dementia care ; health service utilization ; intervention ; non-pharmacological ; psychosocial

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Psychosocial Epidemiology and Public Health (AG Rodriguez)

Research Program(s):

1. 353 - Clinical and Health Care Research (POF4-353) (POF4-353)

Appears in the scientific report 2025

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Database coverage:
; ; ; ; Article Processing Charges ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; DOAJ Seal ; Emerging Sources Citation Index ; Fees ; IF < 5 ; JCR ; National-Konsortium ; SCOPUS ; Web of Science Core Collection

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