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Psychosocial approaches for dementia: Local stimulation groups. Annette Johannesen, MSc in OT The Danish Knowledge Center on Ageing. Reality Orientation (RO).
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Psychosocial approaches for dementia:Local stimulation groups Annette Johannesen, MSc in OT The Danish Knowledge Center on Ageing
Reality Orientation (RO) A technique to improve the quality of life for confused people. It operates through the presentation of orientation information (time, place and person-related) to provide the person with greater understanding, resulting in an improved sense of control and self-esteem
Reality Orientation (RO) • Important that the intervention is used in a sensitive, personal manner to people who want to be orientated to reality • Constant re-learning drills may contribute to self-esteem problems if given in a rigid and insensitive way
Cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) • CST programme is based on concepts of RO • CST sessions: group name, theme song, warm-up activities, themed sessions, RO-board, word association, multi-sensory stimulation, flexible activities, reminiscense, strengthening relationships...
Danish Experience: Stimulation in a group-setting • Local stimulation groups run by activity workers and home care staff (Johannesen, Faaborg 1992)
Aim of the project Gaining people with dementia and their families • a better quality of life • calmer living • a longer stay in their customary environment
Psychosocial approach Every person with dementia must be met as a unique person with a particular life story and profits from meeting others
Occupational approach • Health and well-being is related to meaningful occupation • People with dementia risk occupational imbalance and lack of stimulation
Home support • To become familiar with the person with dementia, visits are made prior to attending the group
Assisted transport • 3-5 times a week • 5-8 participants are picked up at home • 3 hours meetings
Programme • Warming up, coffee, songs, inquiry on well-being • Date, today’s menu and deciding the schedule of the day, themed sessions, exercise, games, quiz, multi-sensory stimulation, • Sharing memories and the experiences of having memory problems
”Cognitive fitness” • Mental exercise: play, reading, quiz, puzzle, discussion, reminiscing, multi-sensory stimulation
A qualitative evaluation Local stimulation groups: • increase the attention on the everyday life of the group members • increase their social skills • offer relief to the family • delay admission to institution • makes transfer to institution less stressful
Psychosocial interventions are needed • The National Danish guidelines stress the importance of non-pharmacological treatment and coordination of efforts • Analysis from Sweden shows, that persons with dementia stay longer in their own home
References Samarbejdsmodel på demensområdet www.servicestyrelsen.dk Spector A et al.R eality orientation for dementia, The Cochrane Library, Issue 4, 2000. Oxford:Update software Sundhedsstyrelsen redegørelse: Demens - den fremtidige tilrettelæggelse af sundhedsvæsenets indsats vedrørende diagnostik og behandling. Kan downloades på http://www.ssst.dk/publ/Publ2001/Demens/kap01.htm Svenske Socialdepartementets rapport: På väg mod en god demensvård. Samhällets instser för personer med demenssjukdomar och deras anhörige, DS2003:47. Kan bestilles via fritzes.order@liber.se Swane CE. Glimt i øje! - Udvikling af omsorgen for demente gamle mennesker, 1991. Socialministeriets Informations- og konsulentvirksomhed (SIKON)