Sustainable Personalised Interventions for Cognition, care and Engagement (SPICE)

The Sustainable Personalised Interventions for Cognition, care and Engagement (SPICE) program seeks to fill a gap in post-diagnostic care for people with dementia and their care partners.

SPICE was co-designed by the University of Canberra and Canberra Health Services at the University of Canberra Hospital Specialist Centre for Rehabilitation, Recovery & Research working with advocates from Dementia Australia. SPICE is an evidence-based multi-component program designed for people with mild to moderate dementia and their care partners.

During 2022-2024 UC CARAT and CHS collaborated to pilot SPICE as a 12-week program including: physical activity, cognitive stimulation therapy, the Care of People in their Environment (COPE) program, social engagement, nutrition assessment and care partner education and capacity building.

This initial (4-group) trial was supported by funding from the Dementia Australia Research Foundation (Hazel Hawke Research Grant 2021). Additional funding support from Canberra Hospitals Foundation and the ACT Government enabled the pilot to be expanded to 14 groups. An evaluation of the SPICE program 2022-2024 involving 182 participants demonstrated positive results for both participants and care partners.

From 2025-2028 a revised 10-week version of the SPICE program is being delivered through an ongoing collaboration between Canberra Health Services and CARAT. The implementation of the program is supported by the Australian Government's Strengthening Medicare funding. An evaluation of the revised 10-week SPICE program: Advancing dementia rehabilitation: Evaluation of a streamlined SPICE program’s effectiveness, impact, and broader transferability is supported through funding from the Dementia Australia Research Foundation.

Expanding access to SPICE

The UC SPICE research team partnered with Harbison in the NSW Southern highlands to implement and evaluate the delivery of the SPICE program in a rural aged care setting with the addition of rehabilitative technology (Motiview).

The project was funded by an ARIIA Accelerator grant contributing to upskilling the local allied health workforce to provide a multidisciplinary allied health dementia rehabiliation program.

SPICE for Life

The UC SPICE research team also developed a follow-up program: SPICE for Life providing an opportunity for SPICE participants to continue with 10 weekly sessions combining physical activity and cognitive stimulation therapy.

A pilot program was delivered in 2025 in collaboration with Carers ACT. In 2026 a new version of the program is being run in collaboration with the UC Student-led Health Clinic, adding an intergenerational element to the program, with occupational therapy, exrecise physiology and psychology students working alongside people with dementia and their care partners.

Occupational therapist and CARAT PhD student Katie Van Soest is conducting an evaluation of the SPICE for Life program. SPICE for Life is supported by funding from The Tradies.

SPICE @ Home

Clinical nurse consultant and CARAT PhD student Clare Stephenson conducted a series of co-design workshops involving health professionals and people with dementia to develeop the SPICE@Home program.

SPICE@Home addresses a gap in post-diagnostic dementia care for people who live in the ACT but are unable to participate in the SPICE program.

SPICE@Home involves six sessions relating to goal setting for self care, leisure and productivity. The program involves physical activity, social engagement, meaningful occupation and cognitive stimulation; connection to services; and development of a personal toolkit to promote well being.

The pilot is being run in Canberra through a collaboration with Canberra Health Services and is supported by funding from the ACT Government.

For further information, reach out to Assoc Prof Nathan D’Cunha.