Assessment of the Effectiveness of Hand Therapy for Elderly People with Dementia

Background: This study evaluated the effectiveness of hand therapy for elderly people with dementia and the change in effectiveness depending on sex differences between the patients and operators. Methods: The Abe’s behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia score (ABS), index of resistance to care, and inner balance scanner scores were evaluated. Results: The mean ABS was 18.4 (before therapy), 16.0 (operator of the same sex), and 17.1 (operator of the opposite sex). The mean index scores for resistance to care were 15.3 (before therapy), 15.2 (operator of the same sex), and 13.2 (operator of the opposite sex). When the operator and patient were of the same sex, the mean value of comparison of total power (TP) decreased from 28,060.4 (before therapy) to 5974.3 (after therapy), and the mean low frequency (LF)/high frequency (HF) ratio decreased from 1.7 (before therapy) to 1.2 (after therapy). When the operator was of the opposite sex of that of the patient, the mean TP value decreased from 25,760.4 (before therapy) to 7669.5 (after therapy), and the mean LF/HF ratio increased from 1.2 (before therapy) to 1.5 (after therapy). Conclusions: Hand therapy was the most effective when the patient and operator were of the same sex.