What should be in a self-management programme for people with early dementia?

OBJECTIVES: First, to use participative research methods to obtain views from people with dementia and carers about their experiences and the interventions that they consider can assist in facilitating independence and quality of life post diagnosis. Second, to use these views to identify priority topics for a potential self-management programme. Third, to explore the relevance of the identified topics with a consultation group of people with dementia and their carers, thus informing the creation of a draft self-management programme.

METHOD: A series of individual and dyad interviews were conducted with people with dementia and family carers to explore their experiences post diagnosis and obtain views of how quality life can be maintained while living with dementia. A further group of people with dementia and carers then met over six successive weeks to explore and provide feedback on the topic areas generated out of the initial interviews and add to the content.

RESULTS: Data generated from the individual interviews identified a number of themes for a potential self-management group which were then validated through consultation. Optimum modes of delivery of a self-management programme were also indicated.

CONCLUSIONS: A draft programme has been constructed building upon the framework of identified priorities. The process and outputs from the consultation also indicated the significant ramifications of such a programme for services.