'Now I can bend and meet people virtually in my home': The experience of a remotely supervised online chair yoga intervention and visual socialisation among older adults with dementia

Feasibility and Preliminary Impact of a Web-Based Mind Body Intervention for Older Dementia Caregivers

BACKGROUND

Mind-body interventions focused on intentional breathing and movement have been found to mitigate the negative effects of caregiving such as such as stress, psychosocial distress, and emotional distress associated for persons living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

OBJECTIVE

The objective was to assess the feasibility and acceptability and preliminary impacts of our 12-week mind body intervention "Gentle Yoga and Yogic Breathing" for caregivers of persons living with dementia on health outcomes including mutuality, depression and anxiety, loneliness and social support, quality of life, and physical function.

METHODS

We conducted a single-group cohort study in which 20 caregivers were enrolled. Data were collected at baseline and at the 12-week post-intervention endpoint.

RESULTS

The intervention was acceptable; 75% (n = 15/20) completed the study; 16 completed post-study questionnaires. Very few experienced technical issues; 31% (n = 3) most commonly reported as poor internet connectivity, 75% (n = 12/16) perceived a health benefit, 88% (n = 14/16) perceived improved day-to-day mood, and 100% (n = 16/16) would recommend the intervention to other caregivers. Although there was minimal change from baseline to 12 weeks, for health outcomes, there were very small improvements noted in anxiety and overall health. There were no reported adverse events.

CONCLUSION

The intervention was well received and is feasible and acceptable for future studies of stress and health management interventions for caregivers of persons living with dementia.Registered with https://www.ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03853148).

Enhancing Minds in Motion® as a virtual program delivery model for people living with dementia and their care partners

The Alzheimer Society of Ontario's Minds in Motion (MiM) program improves physical function and well-being of people living with dementia (PLWD) and their care partners (CP) (Regan et al., 2019). With the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an urgent need to transition to a virtual MiM that was similarly safe and effective. The purpose of this mixed methods study is to describe the standardized, virtual MiM and evaluate its acceptability, and impact on quality of life, and physical and cognitive activity of participants. Survey of ad hoc virtual MiM practices and a literature review informed the design of the standardized MiM program: 8 weeks of weekly 90-minute sessions that included 45-minutes of physical activity and 45-minutes of cognitive stimulation in each session. Participants completed a standardized, virtual MiM at one of 6 participating Alzheimer Societies in Ontario, as well as assessments of quality of life, physical and cognitive activity, and program satisfaction pre- and post-program. In all, 111 PLWD and 90 CP participated in the evaluation (average age of 74.6±9.4 years, 61.2% had a college/university degree or greater, 80.6% were married, 48.6% of PLWD and 75.6% of CP were women). No adverse events occurred. MiM participants rated the program highly (average score of 4.5/5). PLWD reported improved quality of life post-MiM (p = <0.01). Altogether, participants reported increased physical activity levels (p = <0.01) and cognitive activity levels (p = <0.01). The virtual MiM program is acceptable, safe, and effective at improving quality of life, cognitive and physical activity levels for PLWD, and cognitive and physical activity levels among CP.

Nonpharmacological interventions in dementia and diversity of samples: A scoping review

BACKGROUND

A public health priority is the increasing number of people with dementia (PwD), and nonpharmacological interventions (NPIs) might offer support. We sought to synthesize types of NPIs tested among PwD and explore sample characteristics.

METHODS

This study was a scoping literature review. Eligible articles were identified using the search terms "nonpharmacological intervention" and "dementia".

RESULTS

36 articles were included. Psychosocial NPIs were implemented the most (n=24) and music-based interventions were found to be the most effective. Gender, race, and ethnicity were not consistently reported (n=30, n=24, and n=6, respectively). White PwD had higher representation, with only 62.5% of studies including Black participants and 25% including Hispanic/Latino participants. Women made up a majority (>50%) of the sample in a greater number of studies (n=20).

CONCLUSION

Findings suggest that future studies need to be intentional about improving diversity of the sample, particularly with respect to including persons identifying as Black or Hispanic/Latino.