Rehabilitation in the Face of Progressive Decline: Perspectiveof Healthcare Providers

Research Objectives: This research aims to explore the perspectives of healthcare providerson rehabilitation services for ADRD in Pittsburgh, United States. It is part of a larger study that aims to investigate the utilization of rehabilitative services to support the health and well-being of individuals with ADRD and the factors that influence the practice and perspectives of stakeholders in the United States

Design: Qualitative pilot study..

Setting: Community setting.

Participants: N=10 clinicians self reporting experience working with clients diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) were recruited through purposive sampling.

Interventions: N/A

Main Outcome Measures: Semi-structured interviews were used to capture the perspectives, experiences, and priorities of participants relative to rehabilitation as a primary intervention for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Focus groups were analyze via thematic analysis.

Results: A total of N=10 care providers participated, 2 geriatricians, 1 physical medicine and rehabilitation physician, and 7 occupational therapisst. Numerous barriers to rehabilitation provision emerged within the data at the public policy, community, organizational, interpersonal, and individual level. Specific examples of barriers include 1) lack of a protocol or framework for decision making relative to rehabilitation for dementia, 2) time constrains, 3) lack of public awareness related to rehabilitation's potential impact on cognition, memory, communication, behavioral management, and functional participation, and 4) lack of communication between healthcare providers and caregivers.

Conclusions: Rehabilitation interventions can help to support functional independence, improve cognitive capacities, and enhance social engagement for individuals with ADRD. The research also underlines the vital role of rehabilitation services in optimizing care for persons with ADRD, and in promoting their inclusion in standard treatment protocols. Despite specific highlighted barriers, the findings showed that rehabilitation services are perceived as being beneficial to individuals with ADRD. Therefore, gaps and barriers to implementation must be addressed to increase the effectiveness of rehabilitation services.

Author(s) Disclosures: Project funded through Pepper Older Americans Independence Centers (OAIC) program (420064)