Non-Pharmacological Intervention

A non-pharmacological intervention (NPI) is any therapeutic approach delivered without medication, including art and music therapy, reminiscence work, cognitive stimulation, exercise programmes, animal-assisted therapy, environmental modifications, structured social activity, and psychotherapy. In dementia care NPIs are recommended as first-line responses to behavioural and psychological symptoms because they avoid the side effects and risks associated with antipsychotic and sedative medication. Accessibility-relevant NPIs increasingly involve digital tools — tablets, VR, voice agents — that scaffold engagement, autonomy, and social connection for older adults, people with cognitive disabilities, and chronic-illness populations.