Meaningful Activities For People Research Articles

"I Want to Do Something" - Exploring What Makes Activities Meaningful for Community-Dwelling People Living With Dementia: A Focused Ethnographic Study.

Supporting ageing in place, quality of life, and activity engagement are public health priorities for people with dementia. The importance of maintaining opportunities for meaningful activities has been widely acknowledged for those with dementia in long-term care, but little is known about what makes activities meaningful for, and how they are experienced by, people with different types of dementia in their own homes. This study used focussed ethnographic methods to explore the motivations and meanings of everyday activity engagement within the homes of 10 people with memory-led Alzheimer's disease and 10 people with posterior cortical atrophy. While participants' interactions with their everyday environments were challenged by their diagnoses, they were all finding ways to continue meaning-making via various activities. The main findings are encapsulated in three themes: (1) The fun and the function of activities; (2) Reciprocities of care, and (3) The constitution and continuity of (a changing) self. Ongoing engagement with both fun and functional activities offered participants living with different dementias opportunities to connect with others, to offer care and support (as well as receive it), and to maintain a sense of self and identity. Implications are discussed regarding the development and delivery of tailored interventions and support to enable continued engagement in meaningful activities for people with different types of dementia living in the community.

Personally tailored activities for improving psychosocial outcomes for people with dementia in long-term care.

Personally tailored activities for improving psychosocial outcomes for people with dementia in long-term care.

Process evaluation of the FindMyApps program trial: A tablet computer‐based intervention for self‐management and meaningful activities for people with dementia

AbstractBackgroundIt has been demonstrated that people with dementia’s wellbeing can improve by using touchscreen technology. The FindMyApps program is a training and web‐based selection‐tool to help people with dementia and their caregivers find suitable apps that can improve their self‐management and engagement in meaningful activities. As part of an exploratory RCT into FindMyApps a process evaluation was conducted according to the MRC Framework for process evaluation. Contextual, implementation and mechanisms of impact factors which may influence trial outcomes were evaluated.MethodA mixed methods design was used, in which quantitative and qualitative data were collected by semi‐structured interviews (SSI) with stakeholders The SSI comprised closed and open questions, designed specifically for this study. Twenty people with mild dementia (MMSE >17; GDS 3‐4) or Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and twenty informal caregivers in both experimental and control groups, as well as 3 other stakeholders (researchers, technical helpdesk person) involved in the implementation of the intervention, were interviewed. Participants were recruited in the Netherlands. Exclusion criteria: moderate to severe dementia or severe sight problems. All participant dyads were provided a tablet computer for the three months intervention period. In the experimental group, people with dementia and caregivers were trained to use the tablet and FindMyApps after which the caregivers guided the persons with dementia to learn to use FindMyApps and find, and use, suitable apps for self‐management and meaningful activities. In the control group, dyads only received general instruction in tablet use and a list of websites where to find potentially useful apps.ResultRegarding contextual factors, it was found that some technical problems might have influenced the intervention. Regarding implementation, participants noted that the training in the use of FindMyApps was of variable quality. Regarding mechanisms of impact it was found that dyads usually used the apps they found through FindMyApps regularly and enjoyed them, but they did not use FindMyApps itself regularly.ConclusionFindMyApps was experienced as a useful tool by most people with dementia/MCI and informal caregivers. Several adaptations to the trial protocol are recommended, to ensure robust outcomes in a definitive trial into its effectiveness.

THE EFFECTS OF THE NAMASTE CARE FAMILY PROGRAM ON QUALITY OF LIFE OF PEOPLE WITH ADVANCED DEMENTIA

People with advanced dementia often die in nursing homes. Family caregivers frequently feel that their loved one’s quality of life and dying is suboptimal. The daily Namaste Care Family program -derived from the US Namaste Care program- involves family caregivers and integrates personalized care with meaningful activities for people with advanced dementia. A cluster-randomized controlled trial (December 2016 - December 2018) examined effects of the Namaste Care Family program on resident and family caregiver outcomes. Ten Dutch nursing homes implemented Namaste Care Family for 117 residents, while nine nursing homes provided usual care for 114 residents in the study. Nursing staff assessed quality of life over the last week with the Quality of Life in Late-Stage Dementia (QUALID, the primary resident outcome measure). Research assistants observed discomfort during the sessions with the Discomfort Scale-Dementia of Alzheimer Type (DS-DAT). Assessments were at baseline and after 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. We found a significant difference in QUALID score at 12 months favoring quality of life in the intervention group. Further, the intervention group showed less signs of discomfort at 3, 6, and 12 months compared with the control group. The Namaste Care Family program can improve quality of life of people with advanced dementia in the long run. These study findings support sustained implementation of the daily program in nursing homes. Further analyses of effects on the other outcomes will include blinded DS-DAT assessments, more secondary outcome measures and family caregiver outcomes.

Personally tailored activities for improving psychosocial outcomes for people with dementia in long-term care.

Background People with dementia who are being cared for in long‐term care settings are often not engaged in meaningful activities. Offering them activities which are tailored to their individual interests and preferences might improve their quality of life and reduce challenging behaviour.

A sense of belonging - How connectedness motivates engagement in meaningful activities for people with dementia.

A sense of belonging - How connectedness motivates engagement in meaningful activities for people with dementia.

OA25 The namaste care programme can enrich quality of life for people with advanced dementia and those who care for them without additional resources

In the United Kingdom most people with advanced dementia die in care homes. Families judge quality of life and end of life as poor. The Namaste Care programme integrates compassionate nursing care with meaningful activities for people with advanced dementia at the end of their lives. Namaste uses sensory input, touch, music, massage, colour, tastes and scents, to connect with people with advanced dementia. No extra staff or expensive equipment are required. To establish whether Namaste Care could be implemented in United Kingdom care homes, and whether Namaste can enrich the quality of life of care home residents, families and staff without requiring additional resources. We collaborated in an action research study with five care homes to implement the Namaste Care Programme. We collected quantitative data about residents using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) and Doloplus 2 pain assessment scale as primary outcome measures. Qualitative data was gathered from focus groups with care staff and families and interviews with managers. 37 residents were recruited to the study. In care homes with good pain management, Namaste Care was significantly effective in reducing behavioural symptom severity over time. Families, care staff and managers welcomed Namaste. Extra staff and financial resources were not needed to implement the programme. Where there was good leadership and adequate clinical care, the Namaste Care programme supported compassionate care and enhanced quality of life for people with advanced dementia at the end of their lives. No additional resources were required.