Background:

Non-pharmacological interventions show promising positive effects on dementia symptoms. Since the majority of dementia care activities are performed by family caregivers, it is important to know how they perceive and implement such approaches. We aimed to investigate the extent to which non-pharmacological interventions are considered by family caregivers in dementia care and the barriers they encounter in implementing them.

Methods:

A total of 30 family caregivers (mean age: 63.07 years, female: 70%) living inside (30%) and outside the homes (70%) of people with dementia participated. Descriptive data analysis was used to determine the frequency of non-pharmacological interventions implemented, perceived effects, lacking resources, and barriers, while inferential statistics were used to examine whether funding source varied between interventions with high versus low frequency.

Results:

The most frequently implemented non-pharmacological interventions were initiating/maintaining social contact, cognitively stimulating and rehabilitative activities, and time in nature. In general, enjoyment was the most commonly perceived effect of non-pharmacological interventions. Additional effects were reported with respect to well-being, cognitive decline, autobiographical memory, perception of competence, and other symptoms. Major barriers were organizational burden, accessibility, and a lack of funding. Further, lacking resources included a lack of services (e.g., therapies, transport, group activities) and information on possible interventions.

Discussion:

This study highlighted that family caregivers frequently implement non-pharmacological interventions in dementia care. Given the perceived positive effects on dementia symptoms, health care interventions are needed that address barriers and provide resources to foster the implementation of non-pharmacological interventions by family caregivers.