ABSTRACT

Purpose: Recently, the need should establish a dementia safety center and provide dementia care service is on the rise. As a team of early screening, occupational therapists have been excluded. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate that an occupational therapist is an evaluation expert. Method: This study collected data on assessment tools and areas conducted by occupational therapists through domestic and foreign studies and guide books on dementia policy of the Ministry of Health and Welfare. This study compared the evaluation tools used by early screening teams and clinical occupational therapists. Result: The evaluation and treatment of the cognitive and perceptual domains in the occupational therapy are at the top in side of importance and performance. Assessment of the dementia safety center and evaluation of clinical use by occupational therapists are used in six different cognitive areas: memory, visuospatial, concentration, execution, calculation and language. Conclusion: This study suggested that occupational therapist could be a professional who has sufficient qualifications in the evaluation domain, This study will be usefully used in the future when submitting opinions to the Ministry of Health and Welfare for amendments to the dementia policy series.