Perspectives of caregivers and volunteers on Stepping Stones for people with dementia

RATIONALE: Current knowledge in experiences and potential benefits of group-based activity programmes on people with dementia and their caregivers is inconsistent, depending on the quality of interventions. Lacking standardisation in the programme’s content and structure, therefore, requires research in a structured group-based activity programme with more details. OBJECTIVES: This study explored perspectives of spouses of people with dementia and older volunteers about Stepping Stones, involving a theme-based activity group and a support group. Methodology: Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to analyse individual interview data with 12 people. RESULTS: Findings suggest that (1) Stepping Stones promotes participation of people with dementia in a happy, comfortable and accepting environment; (2) Stepping Stones fulfils a deep need of family caregivers; (3) Stepping Stones is well organised with a purpose and expertise and (4) The partnership between the community and the university makes the programme unique. CONCLUSION: Programmes like Stepping Stones can be beneficial by promoting participation of people with dementia and fulfilling a need of caregivers. These findings contribute to evidence of group-based activity programmes, in which activities were well planned by a faculty and students in occupational therapy.