부산대학교 도서관

This study investigated the effects of community-based occupational therapy on the daily functioning of older adults with dementia and caregivers’ sense of competence. Adults 65 years or older with a diagnosis of mild to moderate dementia and their caregivers were assigned to a control or an intervention group. The intervention group received 5 weeks of home-based occupational therapy focused on the older adult with dementia–caregiver dyad. Primary outcomes included 1) daily functioning as measured by the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS), 2) performance in daily activities as measured by the Interview of Deterioration of Daily Activities in Dementia (IDDD), and 3) caregiver sense of competence as measured by the Sense of Competence Questionnaire. Results at 6 weeks showed improvement in AMPS and IDDD scores for older adults with dementia; caregivers’ sense of competence also increased. Improvements were sustained over 12 weeks. The findings support the benefits of occupational therapy in dementia care.