A Feasibility Study of a Community-Based Program for Individuals Living With Dementia.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Neuroscience
• Public Health

Background:

• Meaningful social and daily activities are vital for well-being, yet dementia often leads to reduced participation, social isolation, and loneliness.
• Programs are needed to help individuals adapt post-dementia diagnosis and maintain engagement.
• The Journeying through Dementia (JtD) program aims to foster continued meaningful participation for people with dementia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of implementing the JtD program in Quebec.
• To gather preliminary data for future clinical trials.
• To evaluate program acceptability, content/delivery appropriateness, adherence/retention, recruitment strategies, and outcome measures.

Main Methods:

• A single-site exploratory feasibility study following the Medical Research Council (MRC) framework.
• Intervention involved eight 2-hour group sessions at a research center.
• Data collection and analysis were guided by the MRC framework.

Main Results:

• Three participants completed the program, reporting benefits and finding content/delivery appropriate.
• High adherence and retention rates were observed.
• Care partners showed interest and provided valuable feedback; insights for recruitment and outcome measures were gathered.

Conclusions:

• The JtD program is feasible and acceptable within the Quebec context.
• Findings support the program's potential to enhance well-being for individuals with dementia.
• Considerations for future large-scale evaluations were identified.