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Meaningful activity for long-term care residents with dementia: a comparison of activities and raters
- Authors:
- MANSBACH William E., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 57(3), 2017, pp.461-468.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Purpose: Engagement in meaningful activities is associated with positive outcomes for persons with dementia, yet studies demonstrating quantitative evidence for which activities can be considered meaningful are lacking. This study investigated MemPics™, a program designed to promote meaningful activity for individuals with dementia through engagement and cognitive stimulation. It was compared with other recreation activities offered in U.S. long-term care facilities to determine whether MemPics™ was rated as having more meaningful activity from both the perspectives of participants and recreation staff. Design and Methods: Long-term care residents with mild to moderate dementia that met eligibility criteria were randomly assigned to an activity group (treatment, control). Participants completed 2 sessions of either the experimental or control group activity with facility recreation staff. Both participants and staff rated each activity in terms of meaningfulness following each session. Results: Of the enrolled participants (N = 126), study analyses were based on the 94 participants (n = 48 treatment and n = 46 control; M age = 82.98±9.63) who completed the activity sessions. Compared to the control group activities, MemPics™ had significantly higher participant and staff ratings of meaningfulness. Scores between the 2 rater types were significantly different, with staff reporting higher meaningful activity than participants. Further support for MemPics™ was found in exit survey responses from participating staff. Implications: The authors discuss the merits and shortcoming of this study, the utility of MemPics™ for providing meaningful engagement in long-term care residents with mild to moderate dementia, and ideas for future research. (Edited publisher abstract)
Magic Me's Artists Residencies in Care Homes programme
- Authors:
- BEGAULT Marine, HODSON Kate, LANGFORD Susan
- Publisher:
- Magic Me
- Publication year:
- 2017
- Pagination:
- 57
- Place of publication:
- London
The final report of the two year programme Artists Residencies in Care Homes, which was set up to show the benefits performance artists can bring to older people and people with dementia in a care home environment. It also aimed to develop new tools and techniques to support artists in this work. The programme was delivered by Magic Me in partnership with Anchor and four leading performing arts companies in the country: Punchdrunk Enrichment, Duckie, Upswing, and performance artist Lois Weaver. The report outlines the story of the programme; the motivations for the work; the planning and preparation to set up the residencies; the roles of each partner; the activity and arts work made during the four residencies; and the challenges and learning raised. It also includes the reactions and comments of residents to the programme. It finds that the programme was successful in contributing to the quality of life for residents and staff at the four participating homes. The programme also resulted in changes in staff perceptions of residents’ abilities and gave staff new ideas and skills for leading activities. Some of the challenges raised by the artists included issues around the environment and asthetics of the rooms; balancing the need to support individuals and keeping the whole group engaged; and providing activities to cater for the wide range of needs and abilities within the group. (Edited publisher abstract)
Older people’s experiences of sight loss in care homes
- Authors:
- WARD Lizzie, BANKS Laura
- Publisher:
- University of Brighton
- Publication year:
- 2017
- Pagination:
- 61
- Place of publication:
- Brighton
Reports on a research study, commissioned by Thomas Pocklington Trust, to examine the experiences of older people with sight loss living within a care home. The study focuses on how residents with sight loss experience support, how daily routines and the physical environment of the setting contribute to well-being, aspects of practices that are valued and considered helpful, and how relationships can support living well with sight loss within residential care. The research was carried out in seven care homes. 40 participants took part in interviews, including 21 residents, 10 members of staff and 9 family relatives. Interviews explored residents’ personal backgrounds, experiences of moving into a care home, support available from care home staff, support from outside the care home, and the use of aids and assistive technologies. The report also includes the stories of four residents who participated in the project. Drawing in the findings, the report makes recommendations to improve standards of care and practice for older people with sight loss living in care homes. These include more staff training on visual impairment; increased understanding about the impact of sight loss on social interactions and relationship; more understanding about what meaningful activities mean for people with sight loss, a better understanding of available aids and assistive technology that could help residents; and the importance of befriending and support. (Edited publisher abstract)
Get into Reading pilot project evaluation: April - September 2011
- Author:
- THE READER
- Publisher:
- The Reader
- Publication year:
- 2011
- Pagination:
- 53
- Place of publication:
- Liverpool
An evaluation report of a 6 month Reader in Residence pilot delivered within eight Bupa care homes located in Merseyside and London by The Reader organisation. The pilot involved the setting up of Get Into Reading groups, which use the model of weekly long-term shared reading-aloud. A total of 162 Get Into Reading sessions were delivered during the project and 16 staff were trained. As part of the evaluation staff completed questionnaires at the beginning and end of the project, and focus groups were held with residents and staff to discuss their views about the group. The report includes feedback from residents, staff and family members on the sessions. The results of the evaluation demonstrated that the pilot was success in creating a culture of shared reading within the care homes. The pilot reported improvements in the wellbeing, social interaction, concentration, recollection, agitation and mood of residents, as well as the development of a strong sense of community within the groups. Staff also reported an improvement in their own wellbeing with groups providing an opportunity to build relationships with residents. Lessons identified from the project included the importance of the Reader in Residence to the model, the time the groups were held and the need for flexibility and responding to the needs of individual home set ups. (Edited publisher abstract)
What is meaningful activity for people with dementia living in care homes? A comparison of the views of older people with dementia, staff and family carers
- Authors:
- HARMER Barbara J., ORRELL Martin
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 12(5), September 2008, pp.548-558.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Older people with dementia living in care homes often lack appropriate activities. Although homes are expected to offer a range of activities to meet residents' needs, little is known about what makes activities meaningful for people with dementia. This study explores concepts of meaningful activity, as defined by older people with dementia living in care homes, staff and family carers. This qualitative study used focus groups including 17 residents, 15 staff and eight family carers from three care homes. Transcripts of the groups were subjected to thematic content analysis using a grounded theory approach. Four activity themes emerged-'reminiscence', 'family and social', 'musical' and 'individual'. There were also two related themes-'lack of meaningful activity' and 'what makes activity meaningful'. Residents found meaning in activities that addressed their psychological and social needs, which related to the quality of the experience of an activity rather than specific types of activities. In contrast, staff and family carers viewed activities that maintained physical abilities as meaningful. People with dementia staff and carers had differing views about what made activities meaningful. Organisational limitations and social beliefs limited the provision of meaningful activities for this population. The study also indicates areas for improving activity provision in care homes.
One last pleasure?: alcohol use among elderly people in nursing homes
- Authors:
- WALDO Klein.C., JESS Carol
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Work, 27(3), August 2002, pp.193-203.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
The study discussed in this article describes the alcohol-related policies, practices, and problems experienced by a sample of 111 intermediate care facilities and homes for elderly people in the United States. Despite the problems reported, screening for alcohol problems among residents, treatment of identified problems and training of staff were not found to be widespread. Ambiguity about the role of alcohol as a social beverage or as a psychoactive substance to be managed was identified.
Ageing matters: pathways for older people with a learning disability; unit five; leisure activities
- Authors:
- HARRIS John, BENNETT Lucille, HOGG James
- Publisher:
- British Institute of Learning Disabilities
- Publication year:
- 1997
- Pagination:
- 22p.
- Place of publication:
- Kidderminster
Unit five of a series of teaching materials aimed at staff working with older people with learning difficulties. This unit is on leisure activities and includes sections on: planning leisure activities for older people; individual preferences; helping people to choose leisure activities; what leisure activities are available; how staff can help; and how to find out if the activity is valued. Concludes with a summary of points for practice.
An evaluation of Comic Relief's Care Home Challenge Programme
- Author:
- SHARED INTELLIGENCE
- Publisher:
- Shared Intelligence
- Publication year:
- 2016
- Pagination:
- 53
- Place of publication:
- London
An evaluation of the Care Home Challenge Programme, which aimed to examine if grant funding can help make change happen in care homes by encouraging interaction between residents and staff. Ten projects were given funding to test out different approaches. These include a Tai Chi exercise programme for people with dementia, choral singing, poetry groups, gardening, and using technology to develop collages and life books. The project data found that the following groups directly benefitted from project activities included: 775 older people living in care homes, 374 frontline workers and 438 other people, such as family and friends. Benefits included increased interaction and improved relationships between staff/volunteers and residents and the promotion of new connections between residents. In relation to types of activities, the evaluation found that those involving gentle exercise resulted in an immediate improvement to residents’ movement or mood. It concludes that the funding has brought about increased interactions, improved well-being, and an increased feeling of being valued for staff and residents in care home settings. Where projects have enabled staff / volunteers and residents to spend a dedicated amount of time together, meaningful relationships have developed, helping staff tailor care for residents and helped residents feel more valued. (Edited publisher abstract)
The Alive! difference: an evaluation of Alive! workshops and training
- Authors:
- WILLIS NEWSON, DAYKIN Norma
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 56
- Place of publication:
- Bristol
Summarises the findings of an evaluation of activity workshops for older people in residential care and training for care staff delivered by Alive!, a Bristol-based charity dedicated to improving the quality of life for older people in care through meaningful activity. The evaluation was conducted by specialist arts consultants and evaluators, and looked at outcomes in four areas: supporting older people in care; building relationships; supporting staff; and care home culture and practice. It also sought to describe the activities delivered and investigate value for money. The evaluation was informed by observation, feedback from a range of viewpoints, and analysis of secondary data collected between 2009 and 2014. Activities delivered by Alive! include arts workshops, music and movement and guided reminiscence, The results suggests that Alive! activities have a positive impact on the mental and emotional wellbeing of those who participate. These include expression of personal identity, enabling of personal choice, interaction with others, opportunities to demonstrate skills and to experience a sense of achievement. The activities were also valued by care managers and staff for the impact it has upon individuals in their care. However, the evaluation notes that maintaining the positive wellbeing impacts of the activity sessions is a challenge for staff within the care settings, given the demands of their daily routines. The report makes recommendations to help deliver activities in relation to large groups and people with complex needs, frequency of delivery, and sustaining impact. (Edited publisher abstract)
Resource input,sService process and resident activity indicators in a Welsh national random aample of staffed housing services for people with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- FELCE David, PERRY Jonathan
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 17(1), June 2004, pp.127-132.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The aims were to: (i) explore the association between age and size of setting and staffing per resident; and (ii) report resident and setting characteristics, and indicators of service process and resident activity for a national random sample of staffed housing provision. Sixty settings were selected randomly from those accommodating six or fewer adults with intellectual disabilities in Wales. Nine settings subsequently withdrew. Information from the remaining 51 was obtained on resident ages, gender, adaptive behaviour, physical and sensory disabilities, social impairment and challenging behaviour, the number and working hours of staff, staff:resident ratios at different times of the day, working practices, resident receipt of attention and assistance from staff and resident activity. The sample of 51 residences was divided into four groups of 12, 13, 13 and 13 settings each, according to ascending average adaptive behaviour scale scores. Age of residence was associated with larger size of residence and fewer staff hours per resident. Higher staffing per resident was associated with smaller setting size. Staffing per resident differed across adaptive behaviour groups to a limited extent. Size and age of residence, working practices, resident receipt of attention and assistance from staff did not differ across groups but resident engagement in activity did. Considerable within-group variation was found. The data illustrate trends in provision over time. In addition, they give a picture of recent practice and raise questions about whether staff input, on one hand, and staff training and performance, on the other hand, are well enough matched to the different needs of residents at different points of the adaptive behaviour spectrum.