Occupational Therapy Approaches to Dementia Care

Occupational Therapy plays a vital role in supporting people living with dementia to maintain function, independence, and quality of life. This blog explores the most effective OT interventions, assessments, and person-centred strategies used across home, community, and residential care settings.

Dementia is a progressive condition that affects memory, cognition, and behaviour. As symptoms evolve, so too does a person’s ability to carry out everyday tasks, often impacting their independence, safety, and wellbeing. That’s where Occupational Therapists (OTs) come in.

Rather than focusing on the disease, OTs focus on the person, helping them do more of what matters most, whether that’s preparing a meal, participating in a favourite activity, or navigating their own home safely.

In this article, we explore how Occupational Therapy can support people with dementia and their families through tailored strategies, practical equipment, environmental changes, and meaningful engagement.

Whether you're a carer, support coordinator, or allied health professional, this guide will give you a clear understanding of OT’s role in dementia care and how to access support through Physio Inq or the NDIS.

What Are the Occupational Therapy Interventions for Dementia Patients?

Occupational Therapists use a wide range of interventions that support function, independence, and emotional wellbeing for people living with dementia. These interventions are always tailored to the individual's goals, routines, abilities, and stage of progression.

Common OT interventions for dementia include:

Task simplification and grading

• Adapting tasks to match the person’s current ability, for example: breaking down grooming or cooking tasks into manageable steps.

Environmental modifications

• Installing grab rails, contrast strips, labels, or using dementia-friendly design principles to reduce confusion and risk.

Memory aids and cognitive supports

• Using visual cues, calendars, checklists, voice reminders, and routine charts to reduce reliance on short-term memory.

Meaningful activity engagement

• Helping the person reconnect with familiar hobbies, like gardening, puzzles, or folding laundry, supporting self-esteem and mood.

Assistive technology

• Recommending alarms, sensor lighting, or reminder devices to support daily safety and independence.

Falls prevention and mobility support

• Adapting furniture placement, lighting, and routines to reduce fall risk.

Carer education and training

• Teaching families how to support their loved one in a respectful and person-centred way.

These interventions are not static, they evolve as the person’s condition changes. For example, memory aids may be central in the early stages, while sensory-based calming strategies become more prominent in later stages.

Evidence suggests that timely OT input can delay entry into residential care, reduce behavioural symptoms, and improve quality of life for both the person with dementia and their carers.

Read more about OT interventions for dementia at Dementia Support Australia

What Approach Does Occupational Therapy Use?

Occupational Therapy in dementia care is grounded in a person-centred, strengths-based approach, where the individual’s identity, preferences, and lived experience guide every decision. OTs view clients not only through the lens of their condition but as people first, with unique histories, routines, and goals.

This is especially important in dementia care, where symptoms such as memory loss, confusion, and behavioural changes can affect a person’s ability to function and engage with the world around them. The goal of OT is not to "fix" the condition but to help the person live well within it.

Core principles of the OT approach:

• Enablement over dependency
• Environment as a therapeutic tool
• Routine-based intervention
• Communication-sensitive care
• Respect for identity and culture

Adapting therapy to dementia stages:

Early stage

• Memory aids, task simplification, ADL maintenance, and future planning

Moderate stage

• Assistive technology, home modifications, carer training, safe mobility support

Late stage

• Sensory calming, comfort care, positioning support, and end-of-life OT

This staged approach ensures therapy evolves with the client’s changing needs and maintains a focus on dignity, safety, and participation.

Why this approach matters:

This therapeutic model helps reduce the likelihood of behaviours of concern such as aggression, agitation, or withdrawal, because the person feels understood, empowered, and supported within a predictable environment. It also prevents “excess disability,” where the environment or task is too hard and causes unnecessary loss of function.

Explore person-centred dementia therapy models at Dementia Training Australia

What Is the Occupational Therapist Assessment for Dementia?

Occupational Therapists begin every intervention with a thorough, person-centred assessment. In dementia care, this ensures that recommendations are not only clinically appropriate but also aligned with the person’s values, routines, and stage of progression.

Rather than assessing the condition alone, OTs explore the functional impact of dementia, what the person can still do, what barriers they face, and how their environment and supports influence their daily life.

Common assessment areas in dementia care:

1. Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
2. Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs)
3. Cognition and Executive Functioning
4. Home and Environmental Safety
5. Sensory Processing
6. Carer Capacity and Strain
7. Goals and Preferences

After the assessment, the OT will provide a detailed report, outline recommendations, and create a therapy plan which may include in-home sessions, carer education, or equipment trials. Assessments are often repeated during plan reviews or when symptoms progress.

Explore OT assessments in aged care at Occupational Therapy Australia

What Would Be Your Approach Towards Clients with Dementia?

Every OT-client relationship in dementia care starts with empathy, respect, and a deep understanding of that person’s life. Therapists strive to understand who the person was before the diagnosis, what mattered to them, what brings them comfort, and how to support their identity.

OT strategies in client-centred dementia care:

• Build rapport through familiar activities and people
• Avoid information overload, one step at a time
• Use non-verbal cues and gestures to aid communication
• Promote agency through small choices and participation
• Validate feelings and redirect rather than correct
• Support carers with realistic routines and clear training

Real-world example:

George, a 78-year-old former landscaper with moderate dementia, frequently wandered in search of “tools.” The OT worked with his family to create a secure outdoor area with a raised garden bed and safe, lightweight tools. A “morning gardening” routine was introduced, which restored his confidence, reduced wandering, and brought joy to his daily life.

This is what good dementia care looks like: adapting the task, environment, and expectations to support the person, not just the diagnosis.

Read about communication tips from Carers Australia

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How can an OT help someone with dementia stay at home longer?

By assessing the environment and routines, recommending safety modifications, and supporting function through practical strategies.

Does the NDIS cover OT for dementia?

NDIS funding is available for individuals diagnosed with younger onset dementia (under 65 at time of application).

Can Occupational Therapy reduce carer stress?

Yes, by simplifying tasks, improving routines, and training carers in safe and respectful support methods.

What tools do OTs use for memory support?

Calendars, reminder devices, visual schedules, talking clocks, colour-coded cues, and structured routines.

How often should an OT visit?

It depends on the client’s goals, risk level, and stage of dementia, weekly during intervention phases, or every 3–6 months for reviews.

Final thoughts

Occupational Therapy offers hope, structure, and practical support for people living with dementia and those who care for them.

From early-stage strategies to end-stage comfort and support, OTs focus on function, safety, and dignity, helping people live more independently for longer, and supporting families every step of the way.

Next Steps

Call 1300 731 733 or book online for personalised Occupational Therapy support for dementia care.

You can also:

• Browse more articles on OT and aged care
• Explore our Occupational Therapy services
• Speak to your GP or aged care provider
• Request a home visit or functional assessment through your NDIS or My Aged Care package

Date Published: Thursday, June 19, 2025