COPE delivers a multi-session intervention over three phases, provided by specifically COPE trained occupational therapists and nurses, providing families with education and important skills to prevent and manage challenging care problems at home.
- Assessment:The occupational therapist identifies roles, habits, interests, abilities and carer concerns.
The nurse provides carer with information including, helping identify and monitor common health-related concerns related to changed behaviours or decreased functional ability.
- Intervention: The occupational therapist trains the carer to:
- modify the home environment, daily activities and communication to support the person with dementia’s capabilities,
- use problem solving; and,
- lower carer stress.
For each targeted problem, a written COPE prescription is provided describing the problem, what the carer would like to change and specific strategies to address this.
- Generalisability:The occupational therapist works with the carer to develop strategies for the future.