Search

• Creative activities support the development of relational dementia care, i.e., care that is trusting, reciprocal and mutually beneficial, for those with dementia and care staff. • Socialisation and independence in people living with dementia can be fostered using engaging and interactive creative activities. • Remote and hybrid delivery of creative activities benefits people with dementia and staff in care homes, reaching a much larger population than is normally possible with face-to-face delivery. Culture Box was a creative project that responded to deprivation and distress experienced by those with dementia in care homes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Remote and digital creative activities were designed and delivered as 'Culture Boxes' to care homes, aiming to alleviate social isolation and loneliness for people with dementia. Eighty-eight people with dementia and 33 care staff from 33 care homes across England were recruited to the study, with 68 people with dementia and 28 staff completing the study 12 months later. Participatory Action Research combining mixed methods was used to evaluate the project. Baseline and follow-up surveys and dialogic interviews at 3 time points during the study collected quantitative and qualitative data and were analysed descriptively and via inductive thematic analysis respectively. Qualitative findings indicated that the project activities facilitated relational care through creative experiences characterised by sharing, building relationships, and developing a sense of community. Social health was promoted via participation in social activities and fostering independence. Future studies should further explore the utility of creative practices to develop relational care, to support care staff, and to maximise wellbeing benefits for those living with dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Culturally adapted V-iCST was developed in Hong Kong to increase treatment access. • Intervention was feasible and acceptable for Hong Kong Chinese with dementia. • While V-iCST may have positive outcomes, larger trials are warranted. • Mixed methods analysis articulates the participant's experiences in detail. We aimed to translate and culturally adapt Virtual Individual Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (V-iCST) for the Hong Kong (HK) Chinese population, and to evaluate its feasibility and acceptability. A mixed methods case series (N=8) was used to assess the feasibility of V-iCST and changes in cognition, quality of life (QoL), mood, and communication pre and post-test. Data were analyzed with the reliable change index. Thematic analysis of post-therapy interviews and content analysis of session rating forms were used to evaluate the acceptability. V-iCST was feasible with low attrition (0%) and high attendance (100%). Participants had reliable improvements in all outcomes. Six had improved and stable cognition; four had clinically significant changes in depression. There were no reliable changes in QoL. Qualitative analyses indicated V-iCST as acceptable but required assistance. V-iCST can be adapted for HK Chinese with dementia and potentially improve cognition, QoL, mood, and communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID‐19 pandemic has led to the suspension of community‐based dementia services worldwide, where evidence‐based interventions for dementia, like Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST), were delivered. Treatment access is paramount during the pandemic and beyond for people with dementia to maintain functioning and well‐being. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a virtual, 14‐session program of Individual Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (V‐iCST) in the UK. Method: A single‐blind feasibility randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted in the UK. Thirty‐four people with mild to moderate dementia were recruited from dementia organizations and networks. Seventeen were randomly assigned to receive V‐iCST (14, 45‐min sessions) and 17 to treatment as usual (TAU) over seven weeks. Feasibility and acceptability data, for example, recruitment, attrition, attendance, adverse effects, and fidelity, were collected. Outcome measures on cognitive function, quality of life (QoL), mood, and communication were collected pre and post‐test. Analysis of covariance was used to compare changes in V‐iCST and TAU. Result: We have successfully completed recruitment. Results on feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy will be available at the conference. Conclusion: We hypothesize that V‐iCST is feasible and acceptable and will have positive effects on cognitive, QoL, mood, and communication. Findings will be available at the conference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dementia, a global epidemic, currently affects 40 to 50 million individuals worldwide. There are currently limited effective treatments for moderate to severe dementia, and most treatments focus on reducing symptoms rather than improving positive factors. It is unclear if improvements are not possible due to disease severity. This review examines the efficacy of the current psychosocial interventions for people with moderate to severe dementia, focusing on improving cognition and quality of life to evaluate what treatments are working and whether improvements are possible. Method: A systematic search was conducted using six key databases to identify psychosocial interventions for people with moderate to severe dementia, measuring cognition or quality of life in randomized controlled trials (RCTs), published between 2000 and 2020. Result: The search identified 4193 studies, and 74 articles were assessed for full‐text review. Fourteen RCTs were included and appraised with the Physiotherapy Evidence Database Scale. The included RCTs were moderate in quality. Conclusion: Aromatherapy and reminiscence therapy showed the strongest evidence in improving quality of life. There was some evidence that aerobic exercise enhanced cognition, and a multi‐component study improved quality of life. However, a quality assessment, using pre‐specified criteria, indicated many methodological weaknesses. While we found improvements in cognition and quality of life for moderate to severe dementia, results must be interpreted with caution. Future interventions with rigorous study designs are a pressing need and required before we can recommend specific interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Anxiety is commonly reported by patients attending for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanning. This cross sectional postal survey sought the views of radiographers regarding: levels of patient anxiety, methods used to manage this before and during scanning, and the need for additional interventions to reduce anxiety. Results: Participants reported that they used procedures such as information leaflets, pre-scan visits and music to inform patients about the scan procedure and to reduce anxiety. Despite this, high levels of patient anxiety were reported, leading to scan disruption in some centres. The causes of anxiety concurred with previous research findings, for example, the scan environment, noise levels and fear of what the scan may reveal. Most participants were opposed to the idea of a multi-media intervention to reduce anxiety but this was often related to resource restrictions. Conclusions: Despite most centres using anxiety reducing techniques, many still report scan disruption suggesting there is a need to improve support for patients. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]