COPE (Care Of People with dementia in their Environments) is an occupational therapy and nursing program for people living with dementia and their families. COPE is a practical program, working with the person with dementia and the carer together, to help both the person with dementia to manage their day-to-day activities and the carer to support the person with dementia to live at home.

Occupational therapy may be useful for people through all stages of dementia. The 2016 Clinical Practice Guidelines and Principles of Care for People with Dementia specifically recommend that:

“People with dementia should be offered occupational therapy interventions which should include: environmental assessment and modification to aid independent function; prescription of assistive technology; and tailored intervention to promote independence in activities of daily living which may include problem solving, task simplification and education and skills training for their carer(s) and family”.

The COPE program is one example of how occupational therapists can assist people living with dementia and their families.