Abstract
Background: Reminiscence is widely used as a psychosocial intervention in dementia care. This study investigated the outcomes of a nursing led initiative, InspireD- a home based individual specific reminiscence intervention facilitated by an iPad app for people living with dementia and their family carers.
Method: The study used a quasi-experimental design with three phases. Phase 1: A User Development Group comprising a paired sample of 6 people living with dementia and their family carers worked with the research team to design and test the technology. Phase 2: The InspireD reminiscence app was then used at home for 12 weeks by 30 people living with dementia and their family carers. Outcome measures examined the impact of reminiscence on mutuality, wellbeing, quality of life and quality of the relationship between participants
living with dementia and their family carers. Phase 3: Individual interviews were conducted with a sample of participants (n=31) to explore their experience of the intervention.
Results: People living with dementia used the app independently and more frequently than their carers. There were statistically significant increases in mutuality (p < .0005), quality of caregiving relationships (p < .0005),
and emotional well-being (p < .0005) from baseline to endpoint for people living with dementia. For carers, there were no significant changes in these outcome measures from baseline to endpoint. Participating dyads perceived the intervention as a positive experience which focused on gains rather than losses in the context of memory retention and learning new skills.
Conclusion: Individual specific reminiscence supported by an iPad app can deliver positive outcomes for people living with dementia and their carers. See https://www.theinspiredapp.com/ for more information and publications
Method: The study used a quasi-experimental design with three phases. Phase 1: A User Development Group comprising a paired sample of 6 people living with dementia and their family carers worked with the research team to design and test the technology. Phase 2: The InspireD reminiscence app was then used at home for 12 weeks by 30 people living with dementia and their family carers. Outcome measures examined the impact of reminiscence on mutuality, wellbeing, quality of life and quality of the relationship between participants
living with dementia and their family carers. Phase 3: Individual interviews were conducted with a sample of participants (n=31) to explore their experience of the intervention.
Results: People living with dementia used the app independently and more frequently than their carers. There were statistically significant increases in mutuality (p < .0005), quality of caregiving relationships (p < .0005),
and emotional well-being (p < .0005) from baseline to endpoint for people living with dementia. For carers, there were no significant changes in these outcome measures from baseline to endpoint. Participating dyads perceived the intervention as a positive experience which focused on gains rather than losses in the context of memory retention and learning new skills.
Conclusion: Individual specific reminiscence supported by an iPad app can deliver positive outcomes for people living with dementia and their carers. See https://www.theinspiredapp.com/ for more information and publications
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages | 79 |
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Publication status | Published (in print/issue) - 6 Sept 2023 |
