'Shelter From the Storm': A FINGER-Like Five-Domain Lifestyle Intervention to Promote Cognitive Health and Well-Being in Older Adults in Taiwan

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to promote cognitive health and emotional well-being in older adults by implementing a culturally adapted Five-Domain Lifestyle Intervention (FDLI) in Taiwan. Building upon the internationally recognised Finnish FINGER model, the FDLI included core components-nutritional guidance, physical activity, cognitive training and cardiometabolic risk management-while integrating nostalgic music as a culturally meaningful fifth domain to enhance emotional engagement. METHODS: An 8-month quasi-experimental intervention study was conducted among 38 community-dwelling older adults (aged ≥ 65 years) with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in Southern Taiwan. Participants were non-randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n = 20) or a control group (n = 18) based on residential community. The experimental group received the FDLI intervention; the control group received no intervention. Outcomes were assessed using validated measures of cognition (MoCA), well-being, positive emotion and depression, analysed using linear mixed models. RESULTS: Compared to controls, participants in the intervention group demonstrated significant improvements in global cognitive function, well-being and depressive symptoms over time. Although positive emotion scores did not change significantly, the multi-domain intervention yielded holistic benefits across cognitive and emotional domains. CONCLUSION: The FDLI effectively improved cognitive and emotional outcomes among Taiwanese older adults with MCI. By incorporating culturally grounded strategies like nostalgic music, this study contributes to international gerontological nursing by demonstrating the feasibility and benefits of nurse-led, context-specific, non-pharmacological interventions in underrepresented regions. Findings have practical implications for nursing care planning and dementia prevention in aging societies. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The FDLI model emphasises the practical role of gerontological nurses in implementing community-based interventions that promote healthy ageing. It can be readily adapted for other cultural contexts and applied in low-resource settings. Training programs for health professionals can incorporate FDLI principles to support person-centred care, especially in underserved populations. Policy-makers may consider supporting the integration of lifestyle interventions into community health systems to delay cognitive decline and enhance quality of life. By fostering cognitive health, emotional well-being and social engagement, the FDLI contributes to active ageing and aligns with WHO strategies for age-friendly and sustainable communities (WHO, 2020). Its use of existing community assets also supports ecological approaches to long-term care.