Facilitating People living with a dementia and Their Families to engage in personalised reminiscence supported by an iPad app – a quasi-experimental study

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Abstract

Background: Group-based reminiscence, investigated in three RCTs, generated no overall therapeutic effect. When reminiscence materials and memory prompts are individual specific, there is potential for immediate and longer-term psychosocial benefits.Aim: To investigate the impact of personalized reminiscence facilitated through training and technology among people living with dementia and their family carers.Method/Practice Innovation: Using a co-creation approach, a reminiscence app was developed and refined. Next, a quasi-experimental study was conducted with testing at baseline, midpoint and endpoint. Interviews were conducted at close of intervention. Participants comprised persons living with a dementia (n = 30) and their family carers (n = 30). Each dyad received a programme of training in reminiscence and then training in the use of an iPad app to reminisce. Following this, they engaged in reminiscence activity for a three-month period.Results: Age presented no barrier to use of technology to reminisce. People living with dementia attained statistically significant increases in mutuality (p < .0005), quality of caregiving relationships (p < .0005), and emotional well-being (p < .0005) scores from baseline to endpoint. Among carers, there were increases in mutuality and quality of caregiving relationship scores, and a decrease in emotional wellbeing scores from baseline to endpoint. The changes in carer scores were not statistically significant (Laird et al., 2018). Participants perceived the intervention as a positive experience which focused on gains rather than losses in the context of memory retention and learning new skills (Ryan et al., 2018). Conclusions: People living with mild to moderate dementia and their carers can be supported to engage with digital technology. A programme of training and technology supported personalised reminiscence may be able to deliver positive impacts in the context of early to moderate dementia, without significant negative impact on carers.
Original languageEnglish
Publication statusPublished (in print/issue) - 2 May 2019
EventAll Ireland Gerontological Nurses Association Annual Conference - Castletroy Hotel, Limerick, Ireland
Duration: 2 May 2019 → …
https://www.aigna.ie/

Conference

ConferenceAll Ireland Gerontological Nurses Association Annual Conference
Country/TerritoryIreland
CityLimerick
Period2/05/19 → …
Internet address

Keywords

  • Dementia, Innovation, Reminiscence

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