JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The Namaste Care program is a person-centered, evidence-based intervention that has demonstrated effectiveness in improving the quality of life for people with moderate to advanced dementia and alleviating caregiver burden. However, its feasibility in China remains underexplored. Given China’s unique sociocultural norms and care infrastructure, cultural adaptation is essential to ensure the program’s feasibility, acceptability, and contextual fit.

Objective:

This study aims to adapt the Namaste Care Home Program to the Chinese context and evaluate its feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness. The primary objective is to assess the program’s impact on the quality of life of caregivers and people with dementia, as well as its effects on caregiving burden. Additionally, the study explores caregivers' experiences during the program’s implementation and identifies barriers and facilitators to its integration into home-based dementia care.

Methods:

This study employs a three-stage mixed-methods design. In the baseline stage, expert and stakeholder consultations informed the conceptual framework. The formulation stage focused on adapting the Namaste Care Home Program to the Chinese community context, incorporating cultural preferences and practical caregiving considerations. In the execution and evaluation stage, trained family caregivers delivered the adapted intervention at home. A mixed-methods evaluation, combining pre- and post-intervention quantitative assessments with qualitative process evaluations, was conducted to assess the program’s feasibility, cultural acceptability, and preliminary efficacy.

Results:

Quantitative analysis will assess the impact of the culturally adapted Namaste Care intervention on key outcomes, including improvements in quality of life indicators and reductions in caregiver burden. Qualitative analysis will identify barriers and facilitators specific to the Chinese cultural context, highlighting factors that influence the program’s practicality and acceptance among caregivers. These findings will inform the refinement and potential scalability of the intervention in home-based dementia care.

Conclusions:

The cultural adaptation of the Namaste Care program to the Chinese context represents a critical step toward advancing person-centered, home-based dementia care. By integrating culturally relevant practices and supporting caregiver engagement, the intervention is expected to enhance the quality of life for people with dementia, alleviate caregiver burden, and foster positive emotional experiences. The anticipated findings will offer important insights for tailoring non-pharmacological dementia interventions in other culturally diverse, resource-limited settings. Clinical Trial: This study has been registered at https://www.chictr.org.cn (identifier: ChiCTR2500101042). It was registered on 18 April 2025.