THE KINTUN PROGRAM: LESSONS FOR THE DESIGN OF ACTIVITIES FOR PERSONS WITH DEMENTIA IN CHILE

The Kintun Program is the first public center for the support of people with dementia and their carers in Chile. The program involves different components such as day care center, home visits and caregiver training. Engagement in daily activities and situations is one of the main outcomes of the program, therefore the design and implementation of activities is a major challenge. This symposium will describe the embedded rationale, learnings and recommendations from the process of design and implementation of activities at the center. Three key stages can be described in the history of the Kintun Program since 2013 until today. These stages reflect a progression from an initial structured set of group activities towards a tailored and situated frame for participation in activities. Results show benefits in the reduction of behavioral symptoms, improvement in levels of function and improved caregiver’s perception of the person with dementia’s participation at home.