Nursing homes

The behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia are very predominant in the disease, aggravating the suffering of people with dementia and increasing the physical and emotional burden professional caregivers are exposed to. Despite being so present in nursing homes, professional caregivers do not always have adequate training or the tools needed to deal with these situations. Objectives: to determine what knowledge professional caregivers in residential centres have about behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia; to evaluate how behavioural and psychological symptoms associated with dementia are managed by professional caregivers in residential centres; and to know the training needs perceived by professional caregivers in behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia. Professionals (in the fields of psychology, nursing coordination and geriatric assistance) from residential centres for the elderly were interviewed and a qualitative analysis of the interviews was carried out. The results show that most professionals do not know the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia or how to cope with them and have low levels of knowledge. This study highlights the need to design and provide ongoing training in the residential setting on the management of these symptoms.

Background: Long-term care facilities (LTCFs) have been harmed by the coronavirus, and older adults have remained isolated for a long time with many restrictions. The aim of this study was to measure the decline in cognitive, functional, and affective status in a care facility after the lockdown in the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and to compare it with previous measures in order to determine if this decline was accelerated. (2) Methods: Ninety-eight participants were recruited. Data from three retrospective pre-lockdown assessments and an additional post-lockdown assessment were analyzed. Mixed ANOVA analyses were performed according to the Clinical Dementia Rating levels, considering social-contact frequency during the lockdown as a covariate. (3) Results: The cognitive and functional scores were lower and depression scores were higher after the strict lockdown, accelerating a general pattern of decline that was already present in LTCF residents. The frequency of social contact eliminated the measurement differences in the cognitive and functional scores and the group differences in depression scores. (4) Conclusions: The effects of the SARS-CoV-2 lockdown in an LTCF were mediated by the frequency of contact. Clinical implications: Preventive measures must be taken to ensure social contact with relatives and friends and reduce the negative consequences of social isolation in LTCFs

Engagement in meaningful activities is associated with positive outcomes for persons with dementia, yet studies demonstrating quantitative evidence for which activities can be considered meaningful are lacking. We investigated MemPics™, a program designed to promote meaningful activity for individuals with dementia through engagement and cognitive stimulation. It was compared with other recreation activities offered in U.S. long-term care facilities to determine whether MemPics™ was rated as having more meaningful activity from both the perspectives of participants and recreation staff.