Group therapy plays a crucial role in supporting patients with dementia, helping to improve their quality of life and social interaction abilities. Dementia is a condition that affects cognitive function, memory, and the ability to perform daily activities. Group therapy provides a safe and encouraging environment where patients can share experiences and feelings and cope with challenges.

The leading roles of group therapy for dementia patients include:

1. Improving Social Communication Skills: Dementia often leads to social isolation, causing patients to feel lonely and detached. Group therapy encourages participation in joint activities, helps maintain and improve communication skills, and strengthens connections with others.
2. Providing Emotional Support: Participating in group therapy allows patients to feel understood and empathised with, reducing anxiety, depression, and feelings of helplessness. The support from peers creates strong emotional encouragement, helping them overcome daily challenges.
3. Stimulating Cognitive Function: During group therapy sessions, cognitive games, memory exercises, and other creative activities are organised to promote patients' cognitive functions. These activities help maintain brain activity and provide opportunities for patients to practice and retain cognitive skills.
4. Enhancing Self-Management Awareness: Group therapy helps patients feel that they still have some control over their lives. They learn how to cope with the symptoms of their condition and seek support from the group, which boosts their confidence in managing aspects of daily life.
5. Reducing Burden on Family and Caregivers: When patients participate in group therapy, they can share experiences and learn from others, which helps reduce the burden on family members and caregivers while providing them with time to rest and care for themselves.

Overall, group therapy not only provides psychological and social support for dementia patients but also helps maintain and even improve cognitive functions, creating a positive environment where they feel safe and respected.

The University Medical Center and  30/4 Hospital are implementing these activities.