Therapy services can play a vital role in supporting the health, independence, and quality of life of individuals living with dementia. This page includes resources on occupational, physical, and speech therapy interventions that are tailored to the unique needs and abilities of people with dementia. These services can help maintain functional skills, reduce fall risk, support communication, and enhance daily living—whether at home or in a care setting.

Resources

Barriers and Facilitators to Providing Rehabilitation for Long‑term Care Residents With Dementia: A Qualitative Study. (2024). Ibekaku, M. C., Ripley, S., Alizadehsaravi, N., Affoo, R., Middleton, L. E., Moody, E., Ghanouni, P., Weeks, L. E., & McArthur, C. BMC Geriatrics, 24(1), 838. Available at https://bmcgeriatr.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12877-024-05433-z.

  • This article explores the experiences of residents, family members, staff, and rehabilitation providers in 17 long‑term care homes in Nova Scotia, Canada, to understand why rehabilitation services are often underused by people with dementia—and how to improve access. Even though this focused Canadian study had a relatively small, private‑care sample, it highlights universal strategies for enhancing rehabilitation and quality of life for people with dementia in long‑term care.

Effects of Virtual Reality–Based Activities of Daily Living Rehabilitation Training in Older Adults With Cognitive Frailty and Activities of Daily Living Impairments: A Randomized Controlled Trial. (2024). Journal of the American Medical Directors Association. Available at https://www.jamda.com/article/S1525-8610(24)00819-3/abstract.

  • This article from the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association evaluates a virtual reality–based rehabilitation program aimed at improving everyday living skills in older adults with cognitive impairment. The study found meaningful improvements in these instrumental daily living skills, suggesting that VR can offer a safe, effective, and engaging way to help older adults with memory challenges maintain independence. By offering realistic practice in a virtual setting, this innovative approach shows promise for supporting continued function and confidence for people with dementia or similar conditions—making it a valuable option to consider in community-based dementia care.

Occupational Therapy for People With Dementia and Their Family Carers Provided at Home: A Systematic Review and Meta‑Analysis. (2019). Bennett, S., Laver, K., Voigt‑Radloff, S., Letts, L., Clemson, L., Graff, M., Wiseman, J., & Gitlin, L. BMJ Open, 9(11), e026308. Available at https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-026308.

  • This article reports on a systematic review investigating the impact of home-based occupational therapy for people living with dementia and their family caregivers. The findings show that bringing occupational therapy into the home can help individuals with dementia remain more independent, comfortable, and engaged, while also reducing stress for caregivers. The study supports encouraging referrals to occupational therapy as part of a compassionate, community-based approach to dementia care.

Physical Therapy for Dementia: How and Why It Helps Patients. (2022). Tervort, T. J. Neural Effects blog. Available at https://neuraleffects.com/blog/physical-therapy-for-dementia/.

  • This article highlights the importance of physical therapy for people with dementia, noting that combining movement-based exercises with cognitive activities can offer significant benefits. Integrating physical therapy into dementia care routines can therefore enhance both bodily function and mental stimulation, making it a valuable component of compassionate, community-based support.