We designed an educational programme for multiple disciplines to improve healthcare students’ preparedness to work with people with dementia. It consisted of class-based sessions followed by a volunteer experience interacting with persons with dementia in care homes. This paper discusses the value and impact of this innovative experience.
This paper reports on the challenges associated with implementing and evaluating an innovative pilot music and movement project. The evaluation documents that participants enjoyed the sessions and that they created the opportunity for social engagement although there is little to suggest this is unique to this particular type of intervention. Difficulties included matching the programme to the needs of participants, communicating effectively, and over burdensome paperwork. The paper also comments on the challenges associated with last minute, limited funding opportunities for both the organisation commissioning a project and the team evaluating it. In this case, the evaluation team found that many of the more difficult issues associated with the pilot could have been resolved with more time for planning and preparation.
Swimming is a non-weight bearing form of exercise that can be enjoyable and promote physical fitness. This qualitative study investigated a local group established as part of a national dementia swimming initiative. Semi-structured interviews with people with dementia (N = 4), carers or companions (N = 4) and the organisers and facilitators of the group (N = 6) were analysed using thematic analysis. This revealed four main themes: (1) the pleasure of swimming and its benefits as a form of exercise and for building confidence and empowering participants, (2) the importance of insight and empathy in creating a safe and secure experience, (3) the impact of dementia and (4) how participants valued being part of a group ‘all in the same boat’. ‘Dementia friendly swimming’ appears to be a valuable form of exercise, but it requires considerable preparation and support to make it happen.
High levels of sensory stimuli in care facilities have been shown to negatively affect people with dementia. This article describes the development and application of Resonant Silence Technique which endeavors to create a calming and peaceful atmosphere through multiple periods of silence following sound. The use of a quieting environment, subtle sound, and intentional silence is reported to help people with dementia feel less anxious, more relaxed and cooperative, emotionally appreciative, empathetic, and to improve eye contact and communication. Other positive benefits include improvements in concentration. Suggestions are made for further work to measure the impact of this approach.
This article reports on a pilot study that investigated the use of graffiti arts as a medium for promoting self-expression in people with dementia. Two people with dementia attended a series of workshops with a graffiti artist where they explored their feelings of changing identity following their dementia diagnoses. As part of the workshops, they were encouraged to develop a personal ‘tag’ or signature to portray their sense of identity and a piece of street art to express ‘their message’. These completed artworks were displayed in a public space in Bournemouth, UK.
This study explored public perceptions about the importance of, and how to create, ageing- and dementia-friendly pharmacists and pharmacies. In September 2016, four focus groups (45 minutes each) were conducted with 16 participants who represented organisations, groups or forums working with and/or for older people and people with dementia in Greater London. Discussions were recorded via handwritten notes and thematically analysed. Participants confirmed the importance of pharmacists and pharmacies being ageing- and dementia-friendly and described variability in whether this is currently the case. Suggested strategies for improvement included targeting communication, pharmacist leadership and shop layout.
The challenges of implementing and evaluating a pilot music and movement intervention for people with dementia: Innovative practice