Implementing reablement for community dwelling people with dementia: A formative evaluation using single-case...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Dementia Care
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Reablement is recommended for maximizing functioning in individuals with dementia.
• Despite recommendations, reablement is not routinely available in Australia.
• This study explores reablement implementation and outcomes for a person with dementia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide insight into the implementation of reablement in real-world practice for a person with dementia.
• To evaluate the program outcomes of reablement for a person living with dementia.

Main Methods:

• A single-case experimental A-B-A design (n=1) was employed for evaluation.
• Routinely collected pre-post clinical measures were used alongside the experimental design.
• Qualitative evaluation of clinical notes assessed implementation fidelity, feasibility, and client engagement.

Main Results:

• The single-case experimental design indicated positive impacts on the participant's physical functioning.
• Most routinely collected pre-post clinical measures showed improvement.
• Intervention fidelity varied, with noted differences in program length and client engagement.

Conclusions:

• Evidence-informed reablement is feasible in real-world practice for community-dwelling individuals with dementia.
• Preliminary outcomes suggest positive impacts on functioning.
• Larger implementation trials are necessary to confirm findings and improve program accessibility.