Exploring the impact of early-stage dementia on everyday activities

This paper explores the impact that early-stage dementia has on everyday activities from the perspective of people living with dementia, their supporters and occupational therapy practitioners.

People living with dementia and their supporters (n = 10), and occupational therapy practitioners (n = 21) took part in semi-structured interviews, with transcripts analysed thematically.

Six primary themes were identified across participants, namely: (1) 'Everybody seems to be different, [but] they are similar'; (2) An awareness of change: 'Something's not quite right'; (3) 'Changes' and 'difficulties' associated with complex and unfamiliar activities; (4) Social withdrawal and exclusion: 'I've felt like I was a leper'; (5) Post-diagnostic mental health: '. . .a dark place'; and (6) A process of adaptation: 'I'm still who I am, I can still do things. . .'

Findings indicate that occupational therapy intervention programmes for people living with early-stage dementia should target difficulties associated with a broad range of activity types, and include components that target mental health and motivational needs. The study adds to existing knowledge about the need to personally tailor interventions to ensure that they meet individual needs, experiences, and circumstances. Findings will inform the development of an occupational therapy intervention programme theory (theory of change) for early-stage dementia.