EVALUATION OF AN IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT: IMPROVING COGNITIVE AND FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY OF OLDER PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA IN RESIDENTIAL AGED CARE THROUGH AN EXERCISE PRESCRIPTION APPROACH

Abstract

Dementia impacts the functionality of older adults with respect to their ability to undertake activities of daily living, particularly for those living in residential care facilities. Providing avenues to maintain functionality as dementia progresses is one of the roles of allied health professionals. Accredited Exercise Physiologists (AEPs), in Australia, are recognised allied health professionals, funded through government, and private medical insurance, to provide exercise-based programs for the prevention and management of chronic disease. They are becoming increasingly more active, and beginning to be funded as salaried staff within the aged care industry, on a par with physiotherapists, podiatrists, speech pathologists, and occupational therapists. AEPs may be of value in the aged care environment, with respect to maintaining physical, cognitive and behavioural functionality, related to the effects of Dementia. A 12-week exercise program is being delivered to residents in an aged care environment. The proposed research will evaluate the impact of this targeted, individually specific, exercise intervention for people who have significant dementia and other chronic health conditions and disabilities, from a number of perspectives. We will consider factors including level of cognition, behaviour, functional abilities, and well-being of residents before and following the intervention. Further, perceptions of the intervention and its impact from the perspective of family members, and care staff, will be analysed through survey and interview data. Preliminary evidence suggests that there has been some increase in functional capacity, and improved cognitive function following the intervention. Perceptions about who can benefit from AEP-led exercise, from ambulant residents, to residents in ‘princess chairs’, appear to be changing. The purpose of this research is to provide a rigorous assessment of this impact, through the evaluation of the 12-week exercise intervention. The findings of this evaluation will be utilised to establish the suitability and sustainability of this type of program, and the value of AEPs as a member of an allied health team, in the care of dementia patients in the residential aged care environment.