Attention to older adults with dementia: the actions of the Occupational Therapists placed in long-term care institutions of Curitiba – Paraná, Brazil.

The aim of this study was to understand the work process of Brazilian occupational therapists who work in long-term care institutions in the city of Curitiba, Paraná - Brazil, with elderly people with dementia. A cross - sectional descriptive study was carried out, with professionals who have been working for more than six months in these institutions. Data collection was by means of an online questionnaire, to identify the professional profile, demands of the elderly, assessment and intervention actions. It was verified that the elderly patients are mostly female and diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. The most used assessment was the Mini Mental State Examination and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, and the most cited interventions were expressive, artisan, recreational and leisure activities. Also the numerous cognitive interventions are highlighted. As a result, improvements in cognitive functions were pointed out, especially in aspects of attention, temporal orientation and initiative, as well as a decrease in apathy, improvement in self-esteem, participation and social interaction. However, many interventions identified in the research still have modest or low scientific evidence and these studies need to be further developed. In caring for caregivers, few actions are taken. It is concluded that, in this study, the occupational therapist’s performance showed a unique line of action, with repercussions that point to the better occupational performance of the deferred elderly or to improvements in cognitive and behavioral aspects.