Connecting through reminiscing: Evaluating a dementia engagement programme in two day-care centres in Singapore using multimedia heritage resources

Age Well SG strand: Strengthen support for seniors with care needs in the community

Principal Investigator: Dr Yu Chou Chuen (Research Fellow, GERI)

Collaborating Organisation(s): National Heritage Board (NHB), Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH)

Gap: NTUC Health has developed a dementia engagement programme (DEP) that provides an alternative, non-pharmacological approach toward dementia care. To better understand the implementation of the DEP, NHB is collaborating with GERI and KTPH to evaluate the DEP.

Planned Solution: In this evaluation, GERI will examine the impact of utilising heritage resources in a non-pharmacological care programme targeted at people with dementia in day care settings. This DEP consists of conversational as well as interactional activities between professional caregivers and clients with dementia in a group setting that utilises multimedia heritage resources provided by NHB.

Anticipated Impact: The findings from this evaluation will potentially improve the delivery and guide future iterations of the DEP, contributing towards a better understanding of how the programme will be able to enhance the caregiving practice for people with dementia in senior day care settings in Singapore.

Funding: NHB

Duration: Jul 2023 to Dec 2025