A Study on the Effectiveness of Occupational Therapy for the Demented Elderly : Centered on the Improvement of the cognition and the Activity of Daily Living

작업요법이 치매노인의 인지기능과 ADL 기능증진에 미치는 영향연구

Nowadays senile dementia is on the rise as consequence of serious social problem because of it is old aged society by improvement of medical service. However remedial approach is not being done because of we still don't have an infallible cure of dementia and dementia is been hard to cure. Thus it is introduced in this study to the concept of Occupational therapy, which is one of the remedies. I tried to find out which remedy is the best to cure demented elderly and which is been able to use on field. For this study, I applied a developed Occupational therapy program in actual practice. First, I chose nine demented elderly who are lived in 'David's house' located in Daejon metropolitan city, and I separated them in three groups for this study. Second, I applied each Occupational therapy to first and second group, and I did not apply any Occupational therapy to third group. The first and second group was applied the program, two times a week for an hour, for three months. The measurement of Cognitive function was practiced five times - one time before applying the Occupational therapy by MMSE-K, and three times during applying the program, and one time after ending of the program. The measurement of ADL was practiced two times - one time before applying the Occupational therapy by the Barthel ADL, and one time after one month from ending the program. Effectiveness of Occupational therapy and possibility of application of Occupational therapy program are proved because of this study shows the Occupational therapy keeps well the cognitive function and the ADL function of demented elderly, improves those functions, affects positively to the whole life. However we must develop Occupational therapy, which is proper to a trait of character, and expanded application is needed. In addition, temporary remedy must not be performed but continuous cure. This study will be complement by studying about special situation researcher cannot control something like unexpected death of demented elderly by other diseases.