Exploring Factors for Inclusive Occupational Therapy for People With Dementia in Australia: A Qualitative Study

Therapists require support to apply cultural humility and to build skills to overcome barriers to providing culturally safe and acceptable care. Plain-Language Summary: People from diverse groups include ethnic minority, sexual minority, and socially or economically disadvantaged groups as well as Indigenous populations. We know community-based occupational therapy interventions improve function and quality of life for people with dementia and their families, but we do not know whether they work for people from diverse groups. We asked people with experience of dementia from diverse groups and occupational therapists in Australia what they thought. We found that occupational therapy interventions for dementia are acceptable to diverse groups when the therapist works in partnership, providing an intervention that is meaningful to them. To be inclusive, therapists need to empower people from diverse groups to participate equally in the intervention. They need to make sure families understand the purpose of the intervention. Some occupational therapists may need training to build skills and knowledge as well as support to overcome barriers and to provide acceptable and inclusive interventions.