It’s time to talk about occupational therapy and dementia

This year, Dementia Action Week runs from 21–27 September, providing an important opportunity to talk about dementia and the role occupational therapists play in helping people continue to participate in everyday life.

Dementia is now Australia’s leading cause of death. In 2024, dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, accounted for more than 17,500 deaths, overtaking ischaemic heart disease for the first time.

In 2026, an estimated 446,500 Australians are living with dementia and around 1.7 million people are involved in their care. Two in three people living with dementia are thought to live in the community.

The impact is also growing. Dementia is now the second-leading cause of disease burden in Australia, up from fifth in 2011, and the number of Australians living with dementia is projected to more than double in the coming decades.

These figures make this year’s Dementia Action Week theme, It’s time to talk about dementia, particularly timely. But those conversations shouldn’t focus only on diagnosis, decline and disease. They should also be about how people can be supported to continue living meaningful, connected lives.

That’s where occupational therapy has an important role to play.

Supporting people to live well with dementia

For occupational therapists, occupation is central to health and wellbeing. A diagnosis of dementia does not change the importance of being able to participate in meaningful activities, maintain relationships, contribute to family and community life and retain a sense of identity.

The everyday things can matter enormously: preparing a meal, tending a garden, getting dressed, going to the shops, spending time with family, caring for others, working, participating in a favourite hobby or simply moving safely and confidently around home.

Occupational therapists work with people living with dementia, their families and carers to understand what matters to the individual and identify practical ways to support participation.

Depending on the person, their circumstances and the stage of dementia, this might include:

adapting everyday activities or routines to make them easier to manage
modifying the home or other environments to improve safety, accessibility and independence
recommending assistive technology or equipment
developing strategies to support memory, orientation and engagement
supporting participation in meaningful activities and social connections
working with family members and carers to understand changing needs and develop practical strategies
delivering cognitive rehabilitation, training and stimulation approaches
helping people maintain roles, routines and activities that support their identity, quality of life and optimal brain health.

There is no single approach because there is no single experience of dementia. Effective occupational therapy starts with the individual: their abilities, priorities, environment, relationships and the occupations that give their life meaning.

Looking beyond a diagnosis

A person living with dementia remains a person with preferences, strengths, relationships, experience and a life beyond their diagnosis.

This person-centred perspective is fundamental to occupational therapy and particularly important as Australia considers how health and aged care systems can better support a growing number of people living with dementia.

In March 2026, Occupational Therapy Australia and Dementia Australia released a joint position statement highlighting the important contribution occupational therapists make across the dementia journey.

The statement recognises the role of occupational therapy in enabling people living with dementia to participate in meaningful activities and everyday life. It also highlights the contribution OTs make to supporting families and carers and creating environments that enable people living with dementia to maintain independence, safety and quality of life.

What does this look like in practice?

To explore the role of occupational therapy in dementia care, we spoke with Christina Wyatt, OTA’s Professional Practice Advisor for Aged Care, about what OTs bring to dementia care and why an occupational perspective matters.

Why is occupational therapy particularly valuable for people living with dementia?

Occupational therapy is particularly valuable because we focus on helping people living with dementia continue to do the things that give their lives meaning, purpose and identity. Rather than focusing solely on symptoms or decline, we work with people to maintain independence, participation and quality of life for as long as possible.

We take a strengths-based, person-centred approach. We look at the whole person, including their abilities, interests, relationships, daily routines and goals, and consider how these interact with the environment around them. By understanding these factors, we can identify practical strategies that support continued engagement in everyday life.

What do you wish more people understood about occupational therapy and dementia?

I wish more people understood that occupational therapy is about far more than prescribing equipment or home modifications. While those interventions can be important, they are only one small part of occupational therapy practice.

We are experts in enabling people to participate in everyday life. We understand how changes in cognition, behaviour, physical function and the environment affect a person's ability to engage in meaningful activities. Our role is to identify what matters most to the individual and develop practical, tailored strategies that help them continue doing those things.

There is also much that can be done following a dementia diagnosis. We offer evidence-based interventions that focus on abilities rather than losses. Through rehabilitation, environmental adaptation, cognitive supports, sensory approaches and meaningful activity engagement, we help people remain active participants in their own lives.

Dementia care should not be viewed only through the lens of decline. It should also focus on maintaining independence, preserving identity, supporting participation and enabling people to continue living meaningful and fulfilling lives.

What role can OTs play in supporting families and carers?

We play a vital role in supporting families and carers, working alongside them to build their confidence, skills and understanding of dementia. This may include education about the condition, training in practical support strategies, guidance on communication approaches, and assistance in responding to behavioural and psychological changes.

We can also help families adapt activities, routines and environments so that daily life is easier, safer and less stressful for everyone involved. We can recommend assistive technologies, support risk management, provide manual handling education and identify strategies that help maintain the person's independence and dignity.

Importantly, we recognise that carer wellbeing is essential. We support carers to manage stress, maintain their own health and wellbeing, connect with support services and develop sustainable approaches to caregiving. By supporting both the person living with dementia and those who care for them, occupational therapists help create the conditions for better outcomes, improved quality of life and more positive dementia care experiences for everyone.

A roadmap for dementia rehabilitation

The importance of rehabilitation in helping people live well with dementia is also explored in the new report, Dementia Rehabilitation in Australia: A roadmap for the future.

Developed collaboratively by experts from across dementia care and rehabilitation, including OTA’s Professional Practice Advisor Christina Wyatt, the report looks at how Australia can strengthen access to rehabilitation for people living with dementia and better embed rehabilitation within dementia care.

For occupational therapists, it reinforces an important message: a dementia diagnosis should not mean an end to rehabilitation or opportunities to maintain function, independence and participation.

Build your knowledge and connect with other OTs

OTA members can access a range of resources and learning opportunities to support their work with people living with dementia.

Build your skills with the COPE Program
Care of People with Dementia in their Environment (COPE) Program is a two-day online workshop on 17 and 18 November, exploring practical approaches to supporting people living with dementia and their care partners in the home environment.

Find out more and register here.

Connect through the OT Dementia Interest Group
Share knowledge, discuss practice and learn from others working in dementia care. The next meeting is Wednesday 25 November, featuring Dr Craig Sinclair, Senior Research Fellow at UNSW and Conjoint Senior Research Scientist at Neuroscience Research Australia. Craig will share insights from his research into supported decision-making and advance care planning for older people and people living with dementia.

Find out more and register here.

Explore dementia learning on demand
OTA’s Aged Care Learning Hub includes dementia-specific on-demand learning to help build your knowledge and strengthen your practice, including:

Strengthen your practice with our capability frameworks
OTA’s capability frameworks provide practical guidance to support occupational therapists to develop and demonstrate the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed for their area of practice.

Share these resources with clients and families
Download these practical OTA flyers to help clients and families understand the role of occupational therapy in dementia care: