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Objective: Dementia, a global epidemic, currently affects 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 (QoL) to evaluate what treatments are working and whether improvements are possible. Methods: A systematic search was conducted using six key databases to identify psychosocial interventions for people with moderate to severe dementia, measuring cognition or QoL in randomized controlled trials (RCTs), published between 2000 and 2020. Results: 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. Conclusions: Aromatherapy and reminiscence therapy showed the strongest evidence in improving QoL. There was some evidence that aerobic exercise enhanced cognition, and a multicomponent study improved QoL. However, a quality assessment, using pre‐specified criteria, indicated many methodological weaknesses. While we found improvements in cognition and QoL 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. Key points: While cognition and quality of life (QoL) are largely considered as key outcomes for dementia interventions, little is known about their scope of improvement for moderate to severe dementia. Intervention outcomes tend to focus on managing problem behaviors rather than improving positive aspects.Aromatherapy and reminiscence therapy showed the strongest evidence in improving QoL, and both studies are high‐quality randomized controlled trials with sufficient power. A multicomponent and an aerobic exercise intervention also enhanced QoL and cognition, respectively.Improving cognition and QoL might be possible, even in moderate to severe dementia. However, due to the limited number and quality of studies, our results must be interpreted with caution. [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]

Homelessness is recognised to be a traumatic event in itself and is often preceded by the experience of violence. More recent research has indicated that homelessness can function to enact growth and resilience in women with dependent children. This review paper draws together findings from a series of studies involving women with dependent children who experience homelessness. It identifies key psychosocial and health priorities in this population and how findings related to resilience and growth can be harnessed in therapeutic work. Pragmatic service developments and examples of good practice in therapeutic and multi-agency interventions from the domestic violence and homelessness literature are described and recommendations are made for developing services and working therapeutically with marginalised and transient populations. Therapists need to work in a flexible and integrated way with other key services, so that the crisis and long term needs of this population are met. [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]

This study examined the relationship between coping, mental health and goal achievement among homeless mothers. Seventy-two women took part and 44 were re-interviewed 4 months later. The Family Crisis Oriented Personal Evaluation Scales (F-COPES) were used to identify their coping strategies at the time of homelessness; the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) measured mental health problems; and a semi-structured questionnaire identified their goals. Outcome measures at follow-up were goal achievement and mental health. A variety of coping strategies were used, with some differences ascertained according to reason for homelessness and age of respondent. Lower use of problem-focussed coping was associated with poorer mental health at the time of homelessness. Mental health problems improved over time, but levels of psychopathology remained high at follow-up. Most women had achieved their primary goal of resettlement, and this was associated with use of problem-focussed coping. Lower use of problem-focussed coping, in particular, acquiring social support, was associated with continuation of mental health problems at follow-up, however the greatest predictor of mental health at follow-up was mental health status whilst homeless. Despite exposure to major stressors and poor mental health, mothers experiencing homelessness can maintain their ability to cope effectively, in order to achieve their goals. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]