This article can be view in full by hitting here. The article was written by Rosemary Collins.
A new study shows that engagement with family photographs improves dementia patients’ quality of life
Engaging with family photographs may be beneficial for treating the symptoms of dementia, new research suggests.
In a pilot study conducted by the National Institute for Dementia Education in the USA, health care students worked with elderly people with dementia to engage in reminiscence therapy, which involved discussing their past experiences with the aid of photographs.
The pilot group was divided into four areas of focus. Group A took part in the Tellegacy reminiscence therapy programme and 1:1 student-to-resident sessions with generic stock photographs of families, landscapes, famous landmarks and pets. Group B took part in the programme and sessions without photographs. Group C had no photographs or programme and Group D took part in the programme and sessions with their personal photographs, again including families, landscapes, landmarks and pets. Aged or faded personal photos were enhanced and restored using Vivid-Pix digital technology.
The study found that residents who’d engaged in reminiscence therapy with personal photographs were more enthusiastic about the sessions and remembered more detailed information about them afterwards. They also showed more social engagement, improved or maintained their score in cognitive screening, and were more likely to comply with their medication regime.
