‘That’s me, the Goother’: Evaluation of a program for individuals with early-onset dementia

Abstract

We conducted face-to-face, semi-structured interviews with six white men with early-onset dementia (EOD) and supplemented the interviews with a focus group with six wives of the men to document perceptions of a weekly, supervised volunteer program for the men at the local zoo. The program, ‘Get Out of the House,’ is designed to provide individuals with EOD a weekly opportunity to participate in meaningful, supervised volunteer work in the community. Interviews with participants revealed that they strongly identify with the program and are eager to share their experiences, about which they show some depth of insight. The focus group revealed that the program represents a break in the day-to-day routine for spouses and families, as well as participants, and has benefits that extend beyond the program time itself. Challenges with the development and implementation of such programs and implications for research and practice are discussed.