Physical and social environment in the occupational therapeutic intervention process for elderly with Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers: A systematic review of the literature

Abstract

Introduction: Alzheimer's disease has a significant impact on patients and their families. The restriction on participation is understood in its totality only if considered the context and environment in which the activities happen. In occupational therapeutic intervention, the actions aimed to the environment have been effective in engaging the elderly in significant occupations. Objective: Analyze the intervention process directed to the physical and social environment of the elderly with Alzheimer's disease. Method: A systematic review was conducted, in a 10-year period (2006-2015), in English, Portuguese, and Spanish. The Web of Science, MEDLINE / PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, LILACS, SciELO, OTSeeker, and PEDro databases were used as sources of information. The inclusion criteria were selected for deeper analysis: scientific publications related to Alzheimer's disease in elderly with the participation of at least one occupational therapist as an author and that considered the environmental interventions, or to discuss occupational therapy in Alzheimer's disease without restrictions on the stage of the disease. Results: A total of 141 articles were found, of which only 9 met the selection criteria. National and international studies have shown close association of these interventions with the patient's functionality, humor and quality of life of the dyad, better sense of competence among caregivers, less burden of work, and better cost-effectiveness. Conclusion: Occupational therapy, through environmental modification and educational actions, promotes improvement in the quality of life of the dyad.