Category: Therapeutic Activities

Posted in Ageing & Culture, Caregiving, Therapeutic Activities

An Amazing Music and Memory Program for Dementia

Posted on by Joanna Sun

If you have 5 mins today, you’ve got to watch this video on music, memory and dementia that is being carried out in the Redleaf manor aged care home in New South Wales, Australia. The video (ABC iview-catalyst) shares with viewers insight into this new programme on personlised playlist that can greatly improve the quality of life and well-being of the individual.

The programme helps people to
– reconnect with family
– brings people out of their shell
– brings out positive emotions

Music should be accessible in all care facilities, and prescribed music can help to elevate agitation and reduce the use of antipsychotics (medications)in a study by Standford University.

Music is the only stimulus that activates a range of centres in the brain, aside from memories (temporal lobe and amygdala), music also touches on the movement centres and emotional. This gives answers to the reactions that occur when a person with dementia listens to music despite the progressive deterioration of the brain.

Looking back at our infants, how many of us have played music or sang our babies to sleep? In prelinguistic stages, the environment consists of music and sounds of happiness or sadness or fear. Babies react to the powerful effect of music.

Music is a powerful medium that it is pivotal to our brain’s health.

You can watch the 30min episode here but it’s only available for people living in Australia
http://iview.abc.net.au/programs/catalyst/SC1502H006S00, for those living outside of Australia you can try this link http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/4421003.htm .

Posted in Caregiving, Dementia, Therapeutic Activities

Care staff gets a taste of living with dementia

Posted on by Joanna Sun

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2N5Z_5pc0SU

Oxford Brookes University has devised a training programme to help staff working with people with dementia to come close to understanding the experience of living with dementia. This programme is carried out by a facilitator and participants have to wear a stimulation suit as part of the process. This aids the experiential learning process and creates some awareness of the needs of the individual with dementia.

The programme has proved to be successful and has helped care workers to better understand the experience of living with dementia; and in turn influence and improve the quality of care that they provide to the people they care for.

You can read more about the programme here here http://www.chc.brookes.ac.uk/training/dementia-simulation

 

 

Posted in Caregiving, Dementia, Research & Best Practice, Therapeutic Activities

Animal-assisted therapy helps reduce BPSD

Posted on by Joanna Sun

A successful pilot study that helped to reduced behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) was conducted on 15 nursing homes residents living with dementia who were exhibiting agitation and aggression. The study was carried out over a period of nine weeks on weekdays (2.30pm – 3.30pm) in two nursing homes that offering recreation programs. The team providing the intervention consisted of therapeutic recreation staff, therapy dogs, and their handlers. Residents in the program could play, pet, feed. chat or just talk about pets that they had in the past or just chat with the handlers. At three weeks, changes in the reduction in behaviour were apparent and after nine weeks, it was found that agitated behaviours were reduced and the residents in the program have become more engaged.

dog-869022_1280

This study was published in the American journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and other Dementias by Nancy Richeson from the College of Nursing and Health Professions in the University of Southern Maine, Portland.

Reference:

Richeson, N. (2003). Effects of animal-assisted therapy on agitated behaviors and social interactions of older adults with dementia.American Journal Of Alzheimer’s Disease & Other Dementias, 18(6), 353-358 6p.

Source: Effects of animal-assisted therapy on agitated behaviors and social interactions of older adults with dementia

Posted in Caregiving, Dementia, Therapeutic Activities

Hand muffs for dementia

Posted on by Joanna Sun

These remind me of the tactile blankets that I use to see at work, but smaller, cuter and cosier! Coming in a myriad of colours, this is reblogged from the St Joseph’s Health Care site – Therapeutic Hand Muffs

 

hand muff knittwear

hand muff

What is a Therapeutic Hand Muff?

It’s a basic knitted muff using different yarn textures and colours. Items, such as beads, buttons and ribbons, are then attached (inside and outside) to provide even more tactile stimulation. People with dementia often have restless hands and can be soothed by having something to keep their hands occupied. The muff provides a source of visual, tactile and sensory stimulation at the same time as keeping hands snug and warm.

Materials
Soft chunky or super chunky yarns and novelty yarns such as eyelash or faux fur yarns. Needles: 8mm circular (easiest) or 6.5mm straight needles.

The muff is knit in one long tube which is double the length of the final size. Once you are finished, you will push the interior up inside and sew the two ends together. If using straight needles you will knit a rectangle and sew up the sides first.

Instructions:
Cast on 40 stitches. The first half will be the inside of the muff– chenille or other soft/cozy yarns are best. Work rounds in knit stitch for 11 inches. If using straight needles, knit stocking stitch (knit a row, purl a row) for 11 inches. Continue knitting, but begin swapping out different yarns with interesting colours and textures, such as eyelash, mohair, and novelty yarns. Continue until the length measures about 23 inches and cast off.

If using straight needles: lightly iron the long strip, then neatly join the sides together using edge to edge stitch (with the knit side facing out). At this point you should have a tube.

hand muff full view

Now it’s time to sew on the tactile items. Suggestions include: buttons, beads (in strings or separately), ribbons, small wooden toys or shapes, patches of leather, knitted/crocheted pockets and flowers, zippers, loops, pompoms, etc. Avoid using delicate items such as feathers, items with sharp edges or points, heavy or large items or anything that could tear or break and cause harm. It’s best if items are washable.

hand muff showing how to sew it

It is very important to securely attach the items. Use fishing line, leather string or embroidery thread. Attach each item to a large button on the back of the work as an anchor. The muff will be doubled up so these anchor buttons won’t be visible on the end product.

Attach 2 or 3 items inside the muff (things to grab on to such as large wooden beads, pompoms, etc.) and a few things on the outside. When you have completed attaching items, push the inside half up inside the muff body and sew the two ends together using a neat edge to edge stitch.

hand muffs

Related:

What started as a search for a worthwhile project for a knitting group at St. Joseph’s to pursue in their leisure time, is resulting in creations that soothe and calm people with dementia.

 

Please check out their webpage for more information.

Source: Hand muffs for dementia | St. Joseph’s Health Care London