Abstract
Purpose: A comprehensive rehabilitation program aimed at prom oting self-awareness among patients with neurocognitive disorders living at home and their caregivers was developed and evaluated by comparing its effects on patients and caregivers.
Methods: The program combined personal interviews, group sessions, and education by medical practitioners (a nurse, neuropsychiatrist, speech therapist, and occupational therapist). Participants were five pairs of patients with neurocognitive disorders and their caregivers. The program spanned eight sessions. Case-intervention studies were conducted in pairs to a total of 5 groups.
Results: All participants attended the eight sessions. During the intervention period, Traumatic Brain Injury-31 (TBI-31), memory dysfunction, and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) improved, despite no change in Mine-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores. Improvements in memory and IADL were related to goal achievement and consistency between self-assessment and assessment by others. Moreover, a reduction in caregiver care burden was observed as a secondary effect.
Conclusion: The program promoted self-awareness among nurses while providing mental support, which both enhanced their patients’ capacity to adopt compensation methods and reduced the care burden of caregivers.
