Tele-Rehabilitation for People with Dementia during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case-Study from England.

Claudio Di Lorito,Jocelyn Bell,Marianne Dunlop,Carol Rogers,Vicky Booth,Maureen Godfrey,Carol Duff,Rowan H Harwood,Veronika Van Der Wardt,Rebecca O’Brien,Alessandro Bosco,Lindsey Wilkinson,Pip Logan,Louise Howe,Jane Tuxworth,Rachael Fothergill,Alison Cowley

doi:10.3390/ijerph18041717

Abstract

Introduction: The Promoting Activity, Independence and Stability in Early Dementia (PrAISED) is delivering an exercise programme for people with dementia. The Lincolnshire partnership National Health Service (NHS) foundation Trust successfully delivered PrAISED through a video-calling platform during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: This qualitative case-study aimed to identify participants that video delivery worked for, to highlight its benefits and its challenges. Interviews were conducted between May and August 2020 with five participants with dementia and their caregivers (n = 10), as well as five therapists from the Lincolnshire partnership NHS foundation Trust. The interviews were analysed through thematic analysis. Results: Video delivery worked best when participants had a supporting caregiver and when therapists showed enthusiasm and had an established rapport with the client. Benefits included time efficiency of sessions, enhancing participants’ motivation, caregivers’ dementia awareness, and therapists’ creativity. Limitations included users’ poor IT skills and resources. Discussion: The COVID-19 pandemic required innovative ways of delivering rehabilitation. This study supports that people with dementia can use tele-rehabilitation, but success is reliant on having a caregiver and an enthusiastic and known therapist.

Highlights

The Promoting Activity, Independence and Stability in Early Dementia (PrAISED) is delivering an exercise programme for people with dementia
Given the potential need in the future to deliver services remotely, this study aims to present preliminary evidence on tele-rehabilitation for people with dementia and identify the type of clients with dementia tele-rehabilitation works for, how, and under which conditions; the benefits for the clients receiving telerehabilitation and the therapists delivering tele-rehabilitation; and the challenges of telerehabilitation and how to potentially address these
This study abides by the consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ) [32]

Summary

Introduction

The Promoting Activity, Independence and Stability in Early Dementia (PrAISED) is delivering an exercise programme for people with dementia. The Lincolnshire partnership National Health Service (NHS) foundation Trust successfully delivered PrAISED through a video-calling platform during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: This qualitative case-study aimed to identify participants that video delivery worked for, to highlight its benefits and its challenges. Interviews were conducted between May and August 2020 with five participants with dementia and their caregivers (n = 10), as well as five therapists from the Lincolnshire partnership NHS foundation Trust. Results: Video delivery worked best when participants had a supporting caregiver and when therapists showed enthusiasm and had an established rapport with the client. Several physical activity and exercise intervention programmes have been developed for people with dementia, targeting different outcomes.

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion