About the contribution of occupational therapy to non-pharmacologic approaches for the treatment of psychological and behavioral symptoms associated with dementia.

Abstract

The increase in elderly population in Chile and the world, has determined an epidemiological shift that leads us to pay attention to emerging health situations and new strategies for treatment. Cognitive disorders and dementias are a situation of high prevalence when associated with age and have a high impact on wellbeing of the individual and the family. The absence of curative treatment for dementia determines that interventions focus on achieving a better quality of life of those with the disease and their caregivers. One of the problems that affect the quality of life of the person and family remains on the behavioral and psychological symptoms associated with dementia so that pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic strategies for managing these symptoms are an axis of action and demands interest from all professionals involved in the area. Considering Occupational Therapy as a non-pharmacological approach to dementia, this work seeks to reflect on the contribution of the profession in the management and prevention of behavioral and psychological symptoms associated, linking conceptual frameworks on behavioral and psychological symptoms associated with dementia with the own disciplinary perspective that incorporates occupation as a main approach.