STUDI KASUS: IMPLEMENTASI TERAPI KOGNITIF UNTUK PENINGKATAN MEMORI LANSIA DENGAN GANGGUAN KOGNITIF DI BALAI PELAYANAN SOSIAL TRESNA WERDHA (BPSTW) ABIYOSO YOGYAKARTA

Abstract

Dementia is a syndrome that indicates a decline in cognitive function, where the decline process occurs repeatedly in information from long-term memory. Symptoms include behavioural changes, memory loss, orientation disorders, communication difficulties, and decision-making difficulties, causing sufferers to have difficulty performing daily activities. Cognitive decline in the elderly affects memory, which in turn affects memory retention and the ability to improve memory in the elderly. Therefore, it is necessary to implement measures to improve memory in the elderly by providing cognitive stimulation using cognitive therapy. Non-pharmacological therapies that can be used include reminiscence therapy, puzzle therapy, and brain exercises. The purpose of this study is to describe a case study: the implementation of cognitive therapy to improve the memory of elderly people with cognitive impairment who are willing to be respondents. The respondents used in this study were two female patients, patient 1 aged 60 years and patient 2 aged 92 years, with a nursing diagnosis of memory impairment. Data collection instruments used cognitive status measurements with cognitive function assessments, including the MMSE (Mini Mental Status Exam) and SPMSQ (Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire) assessments. The results of the assessment of both patients showed an MMSE score 18 before the intervention, indicating moderate to severe cognitive impairment, which then increased to 23 after the intervention, indicating mild impairment. On the SPMSQ assessment, both patients obtained initial scores of 5–6, indicating moderate intellectual impairment, which decreased to 3–4 after the intervention, indicating an improvement in cognitive function to mild impairment. The results of this study indicate that before cognitive therapy, elderly people had difficulty remembering past events, whereas after cognitive therapy, there was a reduction in psychological symptoms and a slowing of cognitive decline in elderly people with cognitive impairment. Based on the results of the case study, it can be concluded that the application of cognitive therapy is proven to be effective in improving the memory, independence, and memory skills of elderly people.