Abstract
Traditional memory strategy training interventions improve older adults’ performance on tests of episodic memory, but have limited transfer to episodic memory tasks, let alone to everyday memory. We argue that an alternative approach is needed to assist older adults to compensate for age-related cognitive declines and to maintain functional capacity in their own natural ecologies. We outline a set of principles regarding how interventions can successfully train older adults to increase successful goal pursuit to reduce risks of everyday memory failures. We argue that training individuals to use metacognitive self-regulatory strategies to proactively manage formulation and pursuit of daily goals can compensate for age-related cognitive changes and increase the likelihood of goal attainment. We then describe an intervention approach that instantiates these principles in a multi-modal intervention that is unique in its three-phase approach: (1) individualized assessment of an individual’s current approaches to self-regulation; (2) training memory strategies, self-management skills, and new habits of mind in a group training context; and (3) a behavioral shaping period in which individuals receive coaching and feedback on their efforts to use trained procedures to improve everyday cognition. A recently completed study conducted an initial test of the intervention, with highly encouraging results. We advocate further efforts to replicate, extend, and fine-tune this type of intervention. The ultimate goal is to be able to deliver the intervention in a way that increases its potential reach, including to subpopulations of older adults at risk for everyday cognitive impairments.
Highlights
This paper describes a novel approach to improving everyday memory functioning in older adults, laying out the theoretical rationale for the approach and describing its key features
We provide some additional details on prior approaches in the context of introducing the components of EVERYDAY MEMORY AND METACOGNITIVE INTERVENTION (EMMI)
We encourage individuals to set and attempt memory-related goals between telephone calls to promote continued and new use of the trained memory strategies. This shaping process is unique in cognitive training studies and provides our participants with the extra support they need to incorporate the techniques into their daily lives
Summary
This paper describes a novel approach to improving everyday memory functioning in older adults, laying out the theoretical rationale for the approach and describing its key features. Belief restructuring is needed regarding beliefs that might otherwise undercut adherence to the intervention, including: (1) belief in the efficacy of incidental encoding and retrieval strategies in old age, (2) creating a new belief that proactive self-management is a key means to achieve everyday goals, (3) doubts about one’s capability of learning simple memory skills for addressing problems (e.g., spaced retrieval for learning new names), and (4) inertial resistance to changing current behaviors (Hertzog, 2008). We encourage individuals to set and attempt memory-related goals between telephone calls to promote continued and new use of the trained memory strategies This shaping process is unique in cognitive training studies and provides our participants with the extra support they need to incorporate the techniques into their daily lives. We expect EMMI to improve everyday memory but have minimal impact on memory test performance, except perhaps through the indirect mechanism of improving confidence in one’s own memory [perhaps avoiding age-related stereotype threat (e.g., Barber, 2020)]
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