scholarly journals Exposure to nature gardens has time-dependent associations with mood improvements for people with mid- and late-stage dementia: Innovative practice

Dementia ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 627-634 ◽  
Author(s):  
Piran CL White ◽  
Jonathan Wyatt ◽  
Garuth Chalfont ◽  
J Martin Bland ◽  
Christopher Neale ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Late Stage ◽  
Green Space ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Care Facility ◽  
Dementia Care ◽  
Time Dependent ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Outdoor Space ◽  
The Uk

Exposure to green space and nature has a potential role to play in the care of people with dementia, with possible benefits including improved mood and slower disease progression. In this observational study at a dementia care facility in the UK, we used carer-assessed measures to evaluate change in mood of residents with mid- to late-stage dementia following exposure to a nature garden. We found that exposure to nature was associated with a beneficial change in patient mood. There was a non-linear relationship between time spent outdoors and mood outcome. Improvements in patient mood were associated with relatively short duration exposures to nature, and no additional measureable increases in mood were found with exposures beyond 80–90 minutes duration. Whilst further investigation is required before causality can be determined, these results raise important questions for policy about the integration of outdoor space into the design of dementia care facilities and programmes.

Poetry, philosophy and dementia

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 75-80
Author(s):  
Ellen Jones ◽  
Tab Betts
Keyword(s):  
Family Relationships ◽  
Late Stage ◽  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Family Carers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Intrinsic Quality ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Person With Dementia ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe the use of poetry by family carers as a way into the inner world of a person with late stage dementia, consistent with their values, preferences and experiences; enhancing the wellbeing of both the person with dementia and family carers. Design/methodology/approach – The use of poetry is being increasingly recognised as valuable in improving wellbeing for people with dementia. Poetry has an intrinsic quality which is well-suited for people with dementia: it does not require following a storyline and therefore can be enjoyed by those with no short-term memory. Findings – The paper describes the benefits to both family members and the person with dementia; the use of poetry opened up expression of deep emotions, improved communication and enriched family relationships. Research limitations/implications – Use of poetry by family carers with people with late stage dementia is under researched in the UK and further study of the impact of this intervention would be beneficial. Practical implications – Poetry can be used practically in both small groups in care homes or community settings and also one to one by family carers. Of especial value are poems that have been learnt by heart when young. Originality/value – Finally, the paper also draws attention to the positive lessons we can learn from people with dementia.

scholarly journals Residential aged care facility clinical placements for undergraduate paramedic students: An evaluation of the Australian experience

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brigit Stratton ◽  
Emma Lea ◽  
Marguerite Bramble ◽  
Claire Eccleston ◽  
Mike McCall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Care Facility ◽  
Aged Care ◽  
Clinical Placement ◽  
Residential Aged Care ◽  
Clinical Placements ◽  
Palliative Approach ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Aged Care Facilities ◽  
Residential Aged Care Facilities

IntroductionThis paper presents an evaluation of the pilot aged care clinical placement undertaken by undergraduate paramedic students in the university-based Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre’s Teaching Aged Care Facilities Program. The objective is to examine the learning experiences of students taking part in the first paramedic student clinical placement in Tasmania to be situated in the residential aged care environment. The students’ interactions with residents with dementia and with older people requiring a palliative approach to care are discussed, as key strategies to enhance paramedic student learning.MethodTwenty-one final year undergraduate paramedic students completed a 5-day (40 hour) clinical placement in September/October 2011, in two participating residential aged care facilities in Tasmania, Australia. Qualitative data were obtained from weekly feedback meetings with students, which were audio-recorded, transcribed, and subjected to content analysis. Quantitative data from pre and post-placement questionnaires were collected and descriptive analyses performed.ResultsThe data showed that students enjoyed interaction with residents and that this built their communication skills, particularly with residents with dementia. Students also learnt about the importance of a palliative approach to care and improved their knowledge of dementia.ConclusionA supported placement program for paramedic students in residential aged care facilitates student learning in a number of areas, particularly around working with people with dementia, which is likely to enhance student readiness for the graduate paramedic role. 

scholarly journals The relationship between small-scale care and activity involvement of residents with dementia

2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 722-732 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dieneke Smit ◽  
Jacomine de Lange ◽  
Bernadette Willemse ◽  
Anne Margriet Pot
Keyword(s):  
Home Care ◽  
Group Living ◽  
Dementia Care ◽  
Assessment Instrument ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Activity Involvement ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
The Relationship

ABSTRACTBackground: Nursing home care for people with dementia is increasingly organized in small-scale care settings. This study focuses on the question of how small-scale care is related to the overall activity involvement of residents with dementia, and their involvement in different types of activities. As several studies have indicated, activity involvement is important for the quality of life of residents.Methods: Data were derived from the first measurement cycle (2008/2009) of the Living Arrangements for people with Dementia study, in which 136 care facilities and 1,327 residents participated. The relationship between two indicators of small-scale dementia care (group living home care characteristics, and the total number of residents with dementia in the facility) and activity involvement (Activity Pursuit Patterns of the Resident Assessment Instrument Minimum Data Set) were studied with multilevel multiple regression analyses. All analyses were adjusted for the residents' age, sex, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and dependency on the activities of daily living.Results: Residents of care facilities with more group living home care characteristics were more involved in overall and preferred activities. Furthermore, they were involved in more diverse activities. Overall, no relationship was found between the number of residents at the facility and activity involvement.Conclusions: These results indicate that small-scale dementia care has a positive effect on activity involvement of residents. The current study also sheds light on the lack of activity involvement of many residents with dementia, especially those who are older, male, and with higher dependency.

scholarly journals Expanding a Care Network for People with Dementia and their Carers Through Musicking: Participant Observation with “Singing for the Brain”

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariko Hara
Keyword(s):  
Music Therapy ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Personal Communication ◽  
Dementia Care ◽  
Care Homes ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Ecological Practice ◽  
Therapy Sessions ◽  
The Brain

Music use in dementia care often takes place within a music therapy context, where music therapy sessions aim to reduce agitated behaviour, access emotions or enhance inter-personal communication. Such sessions usually take place within care homes and their effect has been evaluated by a number of studies. However, there is little research on music use that takes place outside of care homes (e.g. in community centres) for people with dementia who are cared for at home by their family. This paper discusses this type of music use, focusing on the meaning of weekly local music making activities in relation to every day dementia care. I use empirical data from a study of a community based music activity called "Singing for the Brain" (SFTB) run by the Alzheimer's Society in the UK. The data was collected through extensive participant observation research and interviews with organisers, carers and care receivers. The preliminary findings from the data analysis are discussed: how SFTB can be seen as a ecological practice; its various “spin-off’ effects in the everyday care of the members with dementia; how SFTB, together with other local music groups, constitute the music and care world in the town; and how this develops into fluid support networks to support local people with dementia and their carers.

scholarly journals Reconnecting Life of those with dementia back to their families and the wider society

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Grachia Kusjanto
Keyword(s):  
Life Experience ◽  
Care Facility ◽  
Dementia Care ◽  
Outdoor Environment ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Family ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Wide Group ◽  
Person With Dementia ◽  
Design Ideas

<p>Dementia has become one of the most feared diseases. It is feared more than cancer for those over 50 years of age. The progressive and distressing nature of the symptoms have been widely known to affect both the person with dementia as well as their families. Eventually, the family has to decide whether to take care of their loved ones themselves or send them to a professional care facility. Currently, dementia care facilities are generally disconnected from the community, confine the residents and lack stimulation. Inactive bodies and minds can result in agitation and faster progression of the disease.  Through multidisciplinary literature review, first-hand observations of the patient behaviours and a review of existing case studies, this thesis explores how landscape architecture can help in creating a better life experience for those with dementia who live in a care facility. The design ideas are near Te Hopai, an existing dementia care facility in Newtown, Wellington.  To overcome the stigmatised environment in the existing facility, this thesis explores the possibilities for bringing the residents out and encouraging the public into their territory, increasing social interaction. A wide group of people such as carers, families and the wider community were considered in the design. Te Hopai’s surroundings, which are currently empty spaces and car parks, have been transformed into a functional and welcoming landscape which the public can use. The landscape has also been designed to encourage residents with dementia who were previously confined inside to experience the outdoor environment. Through designing a socially active, accessible and experiential space that is easy to navigate and interact with, this thesis hope to reconnect and improve the life experience of the person with dementia as well as their community.</p>

scholarly journals Interiority of a Disconnected Mind

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Sarah Cheetham
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Care Facility ◽  
Aged Care ◽  
Dementia Care ◽  
Living Environment ◽  
Rural People ◽  
Urban Living ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Rural Context ◽  
Staffing Requirements

<p>As the population of New Zealand ages, the rate of people with dementia is also increasing, creating greater demand for specialised dementia facilities. However, few of these are located in the rural context that New Zealand is known for. In addition, as a society we have created a stigma around aged care, and tend to design un-home-like and institutional centres. The importance of creating a space that provides contextual features, appropriate wayfinding and therapeutic characteristics has been overtaken by the need to design for efficiency of staffing requirements. Current settings and the relocation to a more urban living environment increases the confusion for those rural people with dementia, as there is little to prompt their memory or make them feel at home. This thesis proposes the design of a dementia care facility that reflects the lifestyle rural people have come from. It examines how these three aspects: context, wayfinding and therapeutic design can be included to enhance the design of a dementia facility, as well as create a space that is enlivening for the residents.</p>

scholarly journals “Nobody Seems to Know Where to Even Turn To”: Barriers in Accessing and Utilising Dementia Care Services in England and The Netherlands

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (22) ◽  
pp. 12233
Author(s):  
Clarissa Giebel ◽  
Sarah Robertson ◽  
Audrey Beaulen ◽  
Sandra Zwakhalen ◽  
Dawn Allen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
The Netherlands ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Systems Of Care ◽  
Dementia Care ◽  
Service Usage ◽  
Care Services ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Informal Carers ◽  
The Uk

Background: Accessing post-diagnostic care can be difficult for people with dementia and their informal carers. Little is known, however, about the determinants of barriers to access, and how these might vary between countries. The aim of this study was to explore potential inequalities in access to formal dementia care services between England and the Netherlands, specifically from more disadvantaged areas. Methods: This was a mixed-methods study, involving semi-structured qualitative interviews and a carer questionnaire. People with dementia and informal carers were recruited by clinicians. The postal survey was co-produced with people with dementia, informal carers, and health care professionals. The survey asked carers about their own and their relatives with dementia’s, social support service usage and financing; as well as how they were made aware of services and whether they required more support. Qualitative transcripts were analysed by two researchers in each country using thematic analysis. Results: A total of 103 carer questionnaires were received by post and 13 interviews were conducted with people with dementia and family carers between January 2020 and April 2020. Many services were accessed via self-funding. Thematic analysis generated five core themes: Health literacy; Having faith and lack of faith; Service suitability; Structural issues surrounding service provision; and Financing care. One major difference between both country’s systems of care were the case manager and network support which people with dementia and carers benefitted from in the Netherlands, which was rarely the case in the UK. Conclusions: People with dementia and informal carers need to be supported better in accessing formal dementia care services in both the UK and the Netherlands, whilst some learning can be taken to improve access.

scholarly journals Working at Green Care Farms and Other Innovative Small-Scale Long-Term Dementia Care Facilities Requires Different Competencies of Care Staff

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (20) ◽  
pp. 10747
Author(s):  
Bram de Boer ◽  
Yvette Buist ◽  
Simone R. de Bruin ◽  
Ramona Backhaus ◽  
Hilde Verbeek
Keyword(s):  
Long Term Care ◽  
Care Facility ◽  
Dementia Care ◽  
Care Staff ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Green Care Farms

The culture change movement within long-term care in which radical changes in the physical, social and organizational care environments are being implemented provides opportunities for the development of innovative long-term care facilities. The aim of this study was to investigate which competencies care staff working at green care farms and other innovative types of small-scale long-term dementia care facilities require, according to care staff themselves and managers, and how these competencies were different from those of care staff working in more traditional large-scale long-term dementia care facilities. A qualitative descriptive research design was used. Interviews were conducted with care staff (n = 19) and managers (n = 23) across a diverse range of long-term facilities. Thematic content analysis was used. Two competencies were mainly mentioned by participants working in green care farms: (1) being able to integrate activities for residents into daily practice, and (2) being able to undertake multiple responsibilities. Two other competencies for working in long-term dementia care in general were identified: (3) having good communication skills, and (4) being able to provide medical and direct care activities. This study found unique competencies at green care farms, showing that providing care in innovative long-term care facilities requires looking further than the physical environment and the design of a care facility; it is crucial to look at the role of care staff and the competencies they require.

United Arab Emirates

2019 ◽  
pp. 101-106
Author(s):  
Amir IA Ahmed ◽  
Salwa Alsuwaidi ◽  
Abdullah Al Ali
Keyword(s):  
Family Caregivers ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Strong Influence ◽  
Extended Family ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Dementia Care ◽  
Comprehensive System ◽  
Ageing Population ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Care Facilities

In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), members of the extended family play a key role in caring for people with dementia. Culture has a strong influence on family caregivers’ motivation, and Emirati people believe strongly that it is their (religious) duty to provide care for their parents and other family members, including those with dementia. This setup contributes positively to keeping elderly people living at home. However, maintaining health and independence in old age will become increasingly challenging in the future, with the increasing ageing population in the UAE, which is expected to reach up to 11% by 2032. Currently, the UAE has no National Dementia Care Strategy, and epidemiological data on dementia in the country are scarce. However, Dubai is known to have a more or less comprehensive system of care for geriatric patients, including dementia care facilities. These dementia care facilities are available free of charge to Emirati citizens.

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