[Do the activities of day programs for the elderly correspond to their various needs?]

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Occupational Therapy
• Rehabilitation Science

Context:

• Day programs serve diverse populations with varying health and functional needs.
• Activity programming in day programs requires careful consideration of participant profiles.
• Optimizing day program effectiveness necessitates understanding the fit between participants and activities.

Purpose:

• To evaluate the alignment between the health and functional profiles of day program participants and the activities provided.
• To identify participant groups based on health and functional characteristics.
• To compare current activity participation with expert-recommended activities for different client profiles.

Summary:

• 132 participants from 5 Montreal day programs were analyzed using cluster analysis to identify four distinct profiles.
• A panel of experts classified program activities, which were then assessed for their suitability to each participant profile.
• Results indicated a partial match between offered activities and participant needs, with better alignment for physical impairments than for depressive or cognitive impairments.

Impact:

• Findings highlight a need to revise day program activity components to better meet diverse client needs.
• Improved activity-program fit can enhance the overall benefits and outcomes for day program participants.
• This study provides a framework for optimizing therapeutic activity programming in adult day care settings.