An evaluation of activities and intervention approaches in an acute dementia setting

Abstract

Background:Recommended interventions for dementia prioritises person-centred care and non-pharmacological approaches. The evidence-base for various therapies such as Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST), music therapy and sensory based interventions has been growing in recent years; however, there is limited guidance surrounding best practice for working with advanced dementia in acute settings, and research regarding the evaluation of ward interventions is scarce.Method:An audit checklist was compiled from the current recommendations and evidence base. Observations of structured activity sessions were conducted across two acute dementia wards to identify how well these aligned with evidence-based recommendations.Results:Our results suggest that activity sessions on the wards align to the evidence base. Specifically, the wards offer high quality interventions integrating CST approaches. It was revealed that the capturing of these interventions was limited within the clinical notes systems, and an action plan to facilitate efficient capturing was identified and initiated.Conclusion:The study found that it is possible to offer evidence-based activity sessions in an acute setting, for patients with typically advanced dementia presentations. Staff feedback led to the production of a poster to help staff identify the interventions they implicitly use as part of their role, aiming to encourage staff to be proud of their work on the ward and be more aware of evidence-practice links.