Experiences of Community-Dwelling Older People With Dementia Participating In A Person-Centered Multidimensional Interdisciplinary Rehabilitation Program 

Abstract Background: There is a great need for the development of feasible rehabilitation interventions for older people with dementia. An increased understanding of this population’s experiences of rehabilitation program participation is therefore important. The purpose of this study was to explore how community-dwelling older people with dementia experienced their participation in a person-centered multidimensional interdisciplinary rehabilitation program.Methods: Sixteen older people with dementia were interviewed about their experiences of participation in a person-centred multidimensional interdisciplinary rehabilitation program. The program comprised assessments by a comprehensive team followed by a rehabilitation period of 16 weeks among people with dementia and their informal primary caregivers. The interviews were conducted in close conjunction with the rehabilitation visits and analysed with qualitative content analysis.Results: The analysis resulted in one overarching theme: Empowered through participation and togetherness and four sub-themes: Being strengthened through challenges; Gaining insights, motives, and raising concerns about the future; Being seen makes participation worthwhile; and Feelings of togetherness in prosperity and adversity. The participants increased their self-esteem by daring and coping in the rehabilitation. The insights about themselves and their condition motivated them to continue with their prioritized activities, but also raised concerns about how the future would play out. Collaboration in the group and being seen and acknowledged by staff strengthened their own motivation and self-efficacy. Conclusion: A person-centered multidimensional interdisciplinary rehabilitation program seems feasible among community-dwelling older people with dementia according to reported experiences. The participants seemed empowered through the rehabilitation and reported mostly positive experiences and perceived improvements, which seemed to affect their wellbeing and daily life. Providers of interdisciplinary rehabilitation programs for this group should consider aspects raised by the participants e.g. the positive experience of being challenged in both exercise and daily activities; the importance of being seen and feeling secure; the benefits and challenges of collaboration with others in the same situation; and the generation of new perspectives of current and future situation. Trial registration: ISRCTN, ISRCTN59155421.http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN59155421. Registered November 3 2015.