The REMINDER4Care Program for Older Adults Supported by Residential and Daycare Facilities

The REMINDER4Care Program for Older Adults Supported by Residential and Daycare Facilities

Dementia incidence is rising, posing a public health challenge, but 45% of cases can be prevented by addressing modifiable risk factors. Multidomain trials show that lifestyle changes can improve cognitive function and reduce dementia risk (like the FINGER trial). The REMINDER program, a Portuguese-based dementia risk reduction protocol, was developed for community-dwelling older adults aged 55 and above. However, older adults in Residential and Daycare Facilities (RDF) have distinct needs that demand program adaptation to ensure its relevance and effectiveness. In addition, more studies are needed to evaluate the impact of multidomain interventions with older adults in RDF.

To address these challenges, the REMINDER4Care program was developed as a tailored, multidomain intervention to reduce dementia risk. It emphasizes social and cognitive engagement and advances its adaptation and evaluation in Residential and Daycare Facilities (RDF). To assess efficacy, the investigators will perform a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Aged 65 years and older
• RDF users
• Elementary reading and writing skills

Exclusion Criteria:

• Have a clinical diagnosis of dementia and/or Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores below the cutoff for the presence of dementia (MMSE < 22-27, depending on education level)
• Have a psychiatric or neurological condition that impairs cognition in the long term
• Have sensory and functional deficits that compromise their participation in the neuropsychological assessment and throughout the intervention sessions