Evaluating the Effectiveness of Dementia Rehabilitation Programs for the Elderly Based on the Severity of Dementia and Proposing Policy Improvement Strategies

(Purpose) The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a cognitive rehabilitation program for older adults with mild cognitive impairment and early-stage dementia. It examines changes in key cognitive functions before and after a 10-week program, categorizing participants by dementia severity. Additionally, the study compares outcomes across different institutions to provide insights for improving current policies and implementation plans. (Design/methodology/approach) The study conducted a comparative analysis within a single group at two institutions in H City, Gyeonggi Province, between March and June 2024. The program included 10 face-to-face sessions with dementia patients. To evaluate the effectiveness of the cognitive rehabilitation program, validated assessment tools were used to measure changes before and after participants’ involvement. The final design combined qualitative face-to-face analysis with quantitative methods. (Findings) The findings showed significant reductions in depression, anxiety, and subjective memory decline scores, along with improved mental states, in the mild cognitive impairment group. In the dementia-diagnosed group, anxiety and subjective memory decline also decreased, though improvements in mental state were less pronounced. Notably, regardless of program participation, elderly individuals with more severe dementia showed no significant changes in cognitive functions. However, they demonstrated greater improvements in subjective happiness and mental state compared to depression and anxiety. (Research implications or Originality) This study suggests that developing detailed and systematic cognitive rehabilitation techniques and conducting research tailored to dementia severity could improve the quality of services for the elderly. Prioritizing the management of various subjective and behavioral symptoms in patients with more severe dementia, along with efforts to enhance their subjective life satisfaction, is essential. This should be incorporated into national financial strategies and policy directions, as well as integrated into the guidelines of community-based implementation agencies, to strengthen support systems and expand institutions for more effective interventions.