Reminiscence therapy in geriatric mental health care: A clinical review

Life Review Intervention: A Systematic Review of Its Feasibility Among Persons With Cancer

CONTEXT

Life Review Intervention (LRI) has started to shift in emphasis of focus onto persons with cancer and its effectiveness in improving their psychological well-being. The process has now begin integrating into healthcare settings as a complementary treatment for this population.

OBJECTIVES

The current systematic review aims to synthesize existing feasibility studies on LRI among persons with cancer.

METHODS

A literature search was conducted from the databases PubMed, ScienceDirect, PsychArticles, Scopus, Psychology and Behavioral Science Collection, Cochrane, EBSCO, and other methods. Eligible articles were selected based on the predetermined inclusion criteria and data extraction revolved around the study design, intervention procedure, and feasibility and psychological outcome measures.

RESULTS

The search yielded 8,627 articles, to which respondents simultaneously receiving other forms of psychological interventions were excluded. Eight were selected for evaluation. Four were integrated interventions while the remaining were conducted with the standard intervention. The sample size range from 5 to 90 persons with cancer. All reviewed articles reported optimum feasibility, as presented by recruitment capability, participant retention rate, acceptability and satisfaction, intervention implementation, and evaluation of intervention outcome measures. However, a majority of psychological outcome measures indicated no statistical significance.

CONCLUSION

LRI is feasible to be implemented among persons with cancer, given the high acceptability and availability of resources for its implementation. The present review highlighted the preliminary knowledge on the feasibility of the intervention.

Effects of a multimodal approach to food art therapy on people with mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia

BACKGROUND

Food art therapy (FAT) has multiple modalities in which cognition, emotion, and social changes are stimulated. The purpose of this study was to design a multimodal approach to a food art therapy (MM-FAT) program and identify its effects on cognitive ability, daily living functioning, depression, self-esteem, self-efficacy, self-expression, and social functioning in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and mild dementia by employing a mixed methods research design.

METHODS

The participants included 39 patients from a public dementia care centre in Seoul, Korea. The intervention group, which comprised 20 participants, received 12 MM-FAT sessions 3 times a week for 4 weeks, and the control group, which included 19 participants, received usual care. The MM-FAT program was evaluated based on its effectiveness on cognitive, daily living, emotional, and social functioning outcome measures at three time points using repeated measures analysis of variance. Semi-structured interviews (n = 9) were conducted to evaluate the overall experience of the MM-FAT program and its outcomes.

RESULTS

The findings reveal that MM-FAT has a positive effect on the cognitive, emotional, and social functioning of individuals with MCI and mild dementia. However, there were no enhancements in individuals' daily living functioning, and the lasting effects of the intervention could not be assessed. Cognition and depression increased significantly at the end of the MM-FAT program. Self-expression and self-efficacy were significantly higher in the MM-FAT group than in the control group. The semi-structured interviews revealed improvements in participants' behaviour, communication, and interaction.

CONCLUSION

This mixed methods study focused on individuals with MCI or mild dementia contributes to an understanding of the effectiveness of a FAT program employing a multimodal approach. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the study was able to enrich the effects of MM-FAT on cognitive, emotional, and social functioning through qualitative findings.

Older Adults' Responses to a Meaningful Activity Using Indoor-Based Nature Experiences: Bird Tales

OBJECTIVES

Bird Tales is a meaningful activity that creates indoor-based nature experiences for older adults in residential care. This study examined the impact of Bird Tales by understanding what attributes of birds take on meaning to older adults and piloting the program to assess the psychosocial impact on older adults in an assisted living facility.

METHODS

We conducted a mixed-methods study. First, we conducted focus groups with older adults. Then we used a cross-over study design with random assignment to examine the impact of the program. Potential benefits of the program were examined using individual interviews and repeated measures on psychosocial questionnaires with a paired samples t-test to compare means from pretest and posttest within the intervention group.

RESULTS

Findings from the focus group indicate multisensory, spiritual, and therapeutic aspects of birds that hold meaning for older adults. The participants in Bird Tales shared positive experiences with the program by discussing cognitively stimulating activity, interactions with others, connections to the past, and positive perceptions of birds and nature.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings from our study suggest the potential of Bird Tales as a meaningful activity for older adults in residential care settings. We discuss implications for research as well as practice and present our recommendations.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Activities in long-term care should be meaningful to meet the psychological and social needs of older adults. Older adults enjoy and may benefit from indoor-based nature activities.

Mental health promotion for elderly populations in World Health Organization South-East Asia Region: Needs and resource gaps

The accelerated population growth of the elderly (individuals aged 60 years or more) across the globe has many indications, including changes in demography, health, the psycho-social milieu, and economic security. This transition has given rise to varied challenges; significant changes have been observed in regard to developing strategies for health care systems across the globe. The World Health Organization (WHO) is also engaging in initiatives and mediating processes. Furthermore, advocacy is being conducted regarding a shift toward the salutogenic model from the pathogenic model. The concept behind this move was to shift from disablement to enablement and from illness to wellness, with the notion of mental health promotion (MHP) being promoted. This article attempts to discuss the MHP of elderly individuals, with special reference to the need to disseminate knowledge and awareness in the community by utilizing the resources of the health sector available in the WHO South-East Asia Region countries. We have tried to present the current knowledge gap by exploring the existing infrastructure, human resources, and financial resources. There is much to do to promote the mental health of the elderly, but inadequate facilities are available. Based on available resources, a roadmap for MHP in elderly individuals is discussed.