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Variability in response of older people with dementia to both Snoezelen and reminiscence
- Authors:
- BAILLON Sarah, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 68(8), August 2005, pp.367-374.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Snoezelen and reminiscence are interventions commonly used by occupational therapists in dementia care. Snoezelen is reported to have a positive effect on patients' mood and their behaviour, in particular on agitated behaviour. A study was designed to assess the effects of Snoezelen on agitated behaviour in dementia. Reminiscence therapy was selected as a suitable comparison intervention, which would enable the benefits of Snoezelen other than those attributable to receiving one-to-one attention from staff to be evaluated. There was found to be considerable variation in the direction and magnitude of change in individual participants' agitated behaviour and heart rate during and after the sessions. This article considers the possible explanations for these individual differences and the practical implications of this research.
Effect of anxiety on memory for emotional information in older adults
- Authors:
- HERRERA Sara, MONTORIO Ignacio, CABRERA Isabel
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 21(4), 2017, pp.362-368.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Background: Several studies have shown that anxiety is associated with a better memory of negative events. However, this anxiety-related memory bias has not been studied in the elderly, in which there is a preferential processing of positive information. Objectives: To study the effect of anxiety in a recognition task and an autobiographical memory task in 102 older adults with high and low levels of trait anxiety. Method: Negative, positive and neutral pictures were used in the recognition task. In the autobiographical memory task, memories of the participants’ lives were recorded, how they felt when thinking about them, and the personal relevance of these memories. Results: In the recognition task, no anxiety-related bias was found toward negative information. Individuals with high trait anxiety were found to remember less positive pictures than those with low trait anxiety. In the autobiographical memory task, both groups remembered negative and positive events equally. However, people with high trait anxiety remembered life experiences with more negative emotions, especially when remembering negative events. Individuals with low trait anxiety tended to feel more positive emotions when remembering their life experiences and most of these referred to feeling positive emotions when remembering negative events. Conclusions: Older adults with anxiety tend to recognise less positive information and to present more negative emotions when remembering life events; while individuals without anxiety have a more positive experience of negative memories. (Edited publisher abstract)
Group reminiscence therapy for cognitive and affective function of demented elderly in Taiwan
- Author:
- WANG Jing Jy
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 22(12), December 2007, pp.1235-1240.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Elderly people with cognitive impairments are often associated with depressed mood and are heavy consumers in both medical services and need in caregivers. Reminiscence is believed to be effective in improving the cognition and mood of demented people. This study tested the hypothesis that structured group reminiscence therapy can prevent the progression of cognitive impairment and enhance affective function in the cognitively impaired elderly. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) based on a two group pre- and post-test design was used. The experimental subjects underwent eight group sessions, one session per week. The measurements were performed using Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Geriatric Depression Scale short form (GDS-SF), and Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD). The sample consisted of 102 subjects, with 51 in the experimental group and 51 in the control group. Results demonstrated that the intervention significantly affected cognitive function and affective function as measured by MMSE and CSDD (p = 0.015 and 0.026), indicating that the cognitive function of the experimental subjects increased and their depressive symptoms diminished following intervention. Participation in reminiscence activities can be a positive and valuable experience for demented older persons. Consequently, the development of a structured care program for elderly persons with cognitive impairment and the need for long-term care is essential. Thus, health providers in long-term care facilities should be trained in reminiscence group therapy, and to be able to deliver such a program to the targeted group.
Dolls; handle with care
- Author:
- STEVENSON Amanda
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Dementia Care, 18(5), September 2010, pp.16-17.
- Publisher:
- Hawker
Doll therapy in dementia care is a controversial approach, and research has shown that individuals differ considerably in their responses to doll therapy. Guidelines for the use of dolls warn that some residents may be reminded of negative memories by being around dolls. This article describes a situation where dolls caused stress to one resident and how this led to the discovery of traumatic events in her life. The care home where the woman lived had been using doll therapy for 10 years. This woman became distressed and concerned at seeing other residents using dolls. Investigations into her background revealed several incidents that could explain her distressed reaction, particularly the death of a baby nephew who she had nursed until his death. As emotional memories are often more easily activated than those that are neutral, these type of memories may be more difficult to inhibit in individuals with reduced cognitive ability. The article concludes that care teams should consider an individual’s personal history before introducing them to doll therapy or before exposing them to an environment where dolls are present.
The effects of reminiscence on depressive symptoms and mood status of older institutionalized adults in Taiwan
- Author:
- WANG Jing-Yy
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 20(1), January 2005, pp.57-62.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This study examined the effects of reminiscence on depressive symptoms and mood status of elderly people residing in long-term care facilities. A longitudinal quasi-experimental design was conducted, using two equivalent groups for pre-post test and purposive sampling. Each subject was administered pre- and post- tests at a 4 month interval, but subjects in the experimental group underwent weekly individual reminiscence therapy. Geriatric Depression Scale short form (GDS-SF) and Apparent Emotion Rating Scale (AER) were used as study instruments. Forty-eight subjects completed the study, with 25 in the experimental group and 23 in the control group. The experimental findings indicated that the experimental group demonstrated fewer depressive symptoms (p < 0.05) and better mood status (p = 0.05) on the post-test comparing to the control group. These warranted that reminiscence therapy is a recommended therapy for older people who reside in care facilities. It can provide a basis for planning geriatric care in community to promote the well being and quality of life of older people.
Depressive symptoms and cognitive decline in elderly people
- Authors:
- PATERNITI Sabrina, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Psychiatry, 181(11), November 2002, pp.406-410.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
Depressive symptoms are associated with cognitive decline in elderly people, but the nature of their temporal relationship remains equivocal. Persistent but not episodic depressive episodes were associated with cognitive decline. High levels of depressive symptoms, when persistent, are associated with cognitive decline in a sample of elderly people.
Including older people with dementia in research: challenges and strategies
- Authors:
- HUBBARD G., DOWNS M. G., TESTER S.
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 7(5), September 2003, pp.351-362.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
This paper examines key challenges and strategies for including older people with dementia in an ethnographic study of quality of life in institutional care settings. The methods of interview and observation are described in relation to meeting four research challenges: verbal communication impairment, memory loss, decision-making capacity, and emotional disposition. A range of strategies for privileging the voice of the person with dementia is recommended which include: using different methods bespoke to each person with dementia; greater flexibility and time; preliminary meetings with the person with dementia; discussions with formal and informal carers; and research training. The researchers also conclude that the use of observation and interview are 'meaning-making occasions' which are qualitatively different but equally valuable for understanding quality of life in care settings.
Explorations in dementia: theoretical and research studies into the experience of remediable and enduring cognitive losses
- Author:
- BENDER Michael
- Publisher:
- Jessica Kingsley
- Publication year:
- 2003
- Pagination:
- 443p.,bibliogs.
- Place of publication:
- London
This book calls for a more positive and constructive approach to improving the lives of people with dementia.The author emphasises the individual's social context; the problems faced and the the reactions to those problems; the process of assessment. The book emphasises developing techniques that allow the person with dementia to describe the experience, helping to ameliorate cognitive losses.
Practice issues: understanding aged holocaust survivors
- Author:
- BRANDLER Sondra
- Journal article citation:
- Families in Society, 81(1), January 2000, pp.66-75.
- Publisher:
- The Alliance for Children and Families
The new regulations throughout Europe concerning increased reparations for Holocaust survivors and the recent opportunities for restitution from Swiss banks have resulted in renewed interest in the situation of aged Holocaust survivors. Understanding the special needs of aged survivors is essential to providing services and the supportive evidence needed for the receipt of financial compensation. Although survivors now seek the help of social workers for practical reasons, the process is charged with painful and horrifying memories. Looked at how practitioners can address the issues thrown up for these survivors.