Dementia Care Research and Psychosocial Factors

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Environmental Psychology

Background:

• Innovative respite services are vital for dementia patients and their carers, especially in rural, resource-poor settings.
• Green Care principles, utilizing nature, show promise for improving health and community engagement for people with dementia and their carers.
• Limited research exists on the feasibility and impact of Green Care for dementia respite in Australia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the implementation and outcomes of the GreenConnect Dementia Respite Project in regional Victoria, Australia.
• To enhance the quality of life (QoL) for people living with dementia.
• To reduce caregiver burden and foster positive respite experiences through nature-based interventions.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods approach using the RE-AIM framework across three phases: codesign, implementation, and evaluation.
• Quantitative data collection on QoL (DEMQOL) and caregiver burden (Zarit Burden Interview) at baseline, 3, and 12 months.
• Qualitative data through satisfaction surveys, semi-structured interviews with dyads, and focus groups with project staff.

Main Results:

• The codesign phase involved workshops and focus groups to refine the implementation strategy.
• The implementation phase, running from April 2024 to June 2026, aims to engage up to 250 dyads.
• This protocol details the evaluation of a novel nature-based dementia respite care model.

Conclusions:

• Project findings will offer evidence for scaling up and integrating nature-based approaches into dementia respite care.
• This research contributes to understanding the efficacy of Green Care interventions in dementia support.
• The study aims to support the broader adoption of nature-based solutions in aged care services.