• Bond, Raymond
• Mccauley, Dr Claire Odile
• Laird, Elizabeth
• Ryan, Assumpta
• Gibson, Aideen
• Ferry, Finola
• Curran, Professor Kevin
• Bunting, Brendan
• Mulvenna, Maurice

Abstract

<b>Background: </b>Group-based reminiscence, investigated in three RCTs, generated no overall therapeutic effect.When reminiscence materials and memory prompts are individual specific, there is potential for immediate and longer-term psychosocial benefits.<b>Aim: </b>To investigate the impact of personalized reminiscence facilitated through training and technology among people living with dementia and their family carers.<b>Method/Practice Innovation: </b>Using a co-creation approach, a reminiscence app was developed and refined.Next, a quasi-experimental study was conducted with testing at baseline, midpoint and endpoint.Interviews were conducted at close of intervention. Participants comprised persons living with a dementia (n = 30) and their family carers (n = 30).Each dyad received a programme of training in reminiscence and then training in the use of an iPad app to reminisce. Following this, they engaged in reminiscence activity for a three-month period.<b>Results:</b> Age presented no barrier to use of technology to reminisce. People living with dementia attained statistically significant increases in mutuality (p &lt; .0005), quality of caregiving relationships (p &lt; .0005), and emotional well-being (p &lt; .0005) scores from baseline to endpoint.Among carers, there were increases in mutuality and quality of caregiving relationship scores, and a decrease in emotional wellbeing scores from baseline to endpoint.The changes in carer scores were not statistically significant (Laird et al., 2018). Participants perceived the intervention as a positive experience which focused on gains rather than losses in the context of memory retention and learning new skills (Ryan et al., 2018). <b>Conclusions:</b> People living with mild to moderate dementia and their carers can be supported to engage with digital technology. A programme of training and technology supported personalised reminiscence may be able to deliver positive impacts in the context of early to moderate dementia, without significant negative impact on carers.

Topics

• impedance spectroscopy