Interventions

New Zealand Dementia Foundation > Research Radar > Interventions
Supporting Meaningful Activity in Hospital.


Gee S., Hawkes T. (2021). 
Australian Journal of Dementia Care, 10(2), 20-22.

Susan Gee and Tracey Hawkes report on a project to support staff in providing meaningful activities for older patients during hospital admission, particularly for those living with dementia.

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“Choir Online Is Better Than No Choir at All!” The Responses of Adults With Neurological Conditions to an E-Choir Initiative During the COVID-19 Lockdown in New Zealand.


Talmage, A., Purdy, S., Rakena, T.O., and Rickson, D (2020).
BECM Conference.

The CeleBRation Choir is a community singing group for adults (predominantly 65+) with a variety of communication difficulties resulting from an acquired neurological condition, such as stroke, Parkinson’s disease, or dementia, and their partners /carers. The e-choir project is a response to enforced self-isolation and social distancing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This poster outlines how the existing choir approach has been adapted for the online environment, highlighting the emerging vital themes, such as song choice, familiar and new experiences, interaction, humour and creativity. Reflections from participants and song lyrics reveal collective and individual emotional responses to this unanticipated e-choir experience.

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Challenges to Dementia Care During COVID-19: Innovations in Remote Delivery of Group Cognitive Stimulation Therapy, Aging & Mental Health.


Cheung, G. & Peri, K. (2020) 

This paper reports virtual Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (vCST) as a case example of how technology was used to deliver a group intervention for people with dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Developing Assistive Robots for People With Mild Cognitive Impairment and Mild Dementia: A Qualitative Study With Older Adults and Experts in Aged Care.


Law, M., Sutherland, C., Ahn, H. S., MacDonald, B. A., Peri, K., Johanson, D. L., … & Broadbent, E. (2019).
BMJ Open, 9(9).

Two studies were conducted. In the first study, participants watched videos of a prototype robot performing daily-care activities; in the second study, participants interacted with the robot itself. The themes that emerged included aspects of the robot’s interactions, potential benefits, its appearance, actions, and humanness, ways to improve its functionality, and technical issues.

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Community Music Therapy To Support the Relationship Between Family Carers and People Living With Dementia: A Pilot Project.


Allan, M. (2018).
New Zealand Journal of Music Therapy, 16, 31.

The purpose of this project was to look at whether weekly community-based group music therapy sessions would support the relationship needs of couples, where one is affected by the onset of dementia and the other has become the carer.

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Something for Everyone.


Campbell, D., Gee, S., & Seabridge, B. (2018).
Australian Journal of Dementia Care, 7(3), 19-21.

In New Zealand’s South Island, Dementia Canterbury has trialled an alternative respite service model that provides a broad range of community-based activity groups to help people living with dementia enjoy meaningful activities in normal social settings, while also supporting care partners.

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“I Feel Alive”: An Evaluation of Dementia Canterbury’s Community-Based Activity Respite Programme. Christchurch, NZ: Dementia Canterbury.


Gee, S. and Dementia Canterbury (2018). 
Christchurch, NZ: Dementia Canterbury. 

To provide respite and meaningful activities for people living with dementia, Dementia Canterbury piloted a programme in collaboration with local community services. The aim for the person living with dementia is to provide an engaging and enjoyable activity ‘in the moment’, and through the provision of these opportunities on a regular basis to improve their overall well-being. The aim for the care partner is to reduce the stress associated with their caring role and to improve quality of life. This evaluation project was initiated to enable Dementia Canterbury to document evidence of these outcomes. It also aims to provide insights to guide the programme’s future development and improvements.

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A Pilot Randomised Trial of a Companion Robot for People With Dementia Living in the Community.


Liang, A., Piroth, I., Robinson, H., MacDonald, B., Fisher, M., Nater, U. M., … & Broadbent, E. (2017).
Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 18(10), 871-878.

To investigate the effects of the companion robot Paro on people with dementia in two Auckland day care centres and in home settings, a block-randomised controlled trial was conducted. Observations showed that Paro significantly improved facial expressions (affect) and communication with staff (social interaction) at the day care centres. Subanalyses showed that care recipients with less cognitive impairment responded significantly better to Paro.

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Perceptions of a Cognitive Rehabilitation Group by Older People Living With Cognitive Impairment and Their Caregivers: A Qualitative Interview Study.


Moebs, I., Gee, S., Miyahara, M., Paton, H., & Croucher, M. (2017).
Arts & Health, 7(3), 261-270.

This New Zealand study aimed to understand the experiences of people living with cognitive impairment and their caregivers who participated in a cognitive rehabilitation intervention programme. The participants living with cognitive impairment emphasised the relational and practical benefits, whereas the caregivers valued informational and emotional support. Both participants living with cognitive impairment and caregivers found the cognitive rehabilitation group useful.

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Benefits and Problems of Health-Care Robots in Aged Care Settings: A Comparison Trial.


Broadbent, E., Kerse, N., Peri, K., Robinson, H., Jayawardena, C., Kuo, T., … & Amor, M. (2016). 
Australasian Journal on Ageing, 35(1), 23-29.

Fifty‐three residents and 53 staff participated in a non‐randomised controlled trial. Six robots provided entertainment, communication, and health monitoring functions in staff rooms and activity lounges. These settings were compared to control settings without robots. The robots had no major benefits or problems.

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Behavioural Evaluation of Sensory-Based Activities in Dementia Care.


Hensman, M., Mudford, O. C., Dorrestein, M., & Brand, D. (2015). 
Journal of Behaviour Analysis, 16(2), 295-311.

This study evaluated the behavioural effects of an occupational therapy program of individualised sensory-based activities (SBAs), in which activities were selected based on individuals’ sensory abilities and preferences. Six participants with severe cognitive impairment (aged 68–90 years) were selected by the staff of a residential dementia facility. The results indicate that the use of SBA had immediate effects during the activity, but limited short-term aftereffects.

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Replication and Extension of a Check-In Procedure To Increase Activity Engagement Among People With Severe Dementia.


Engstrom, E., Mudford, O. C., & Brand, D. (2015). 
Journal of Applied Behaviour Analysis, 48(2), 460-465.

A procedure was introduced to ensure that staff checked in with older residents in a nursing home and offered activity choices. Among 5 residents (aged 77 to 83 years) with severe dementia, activity engagement increased for 3 participants, with modest improvement in 1. The 4 responders all engaged in a wider variety of activities during the intervention.

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Suitability of Healthcare Robots for a Dementia Unit and Suggested Improvements.

Robinson, H., MacDonald, B. A., Kerse, N., & Broadbent, E. (2013). 
Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 14(1), 34-40.

This study compared responses to two robots to investigate the suitability of a new eldercare robot (Guide) for people with dementia and their caregivers, compared with one that has been successfully used before (Paro), and to generate suggestions for improved robot-enhanced dementia care.

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Describing and Measuring the ’Switch-On’effect in People With Dementia Who Participate in Cognitive Stimulation Therapy: A Mixed Methods Study.


Liu, Q., Jones, M., & Hocking, C. (2020).
British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 83(5), 316-325.

Cognitive stimulation therapy is an evidence-based group intervention for promoting cognition and quality of life in people with dementia. This New Zealand study aimed to describe and measure the ‘switch-on’ effect, a recently reported benefit involving enhanced participation.

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Reading for Dementia.


Orrell, M., Dening, T., Husain, N., Rimkeit, S., Claridge, G., & Sim, D. (2019).
In Reading and Mental Health (pp. 395-418). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.

In the last part of this chapter, three researchers working on a reading and dementia programme in New Zealand outline their three-stage study (feasibility, pilot, RCT) to support a robust study that can help mainstream reading in old-age care.

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Promoting Dementia-Friendly Libraries: Setting Up Book Groups To Encourage Reading and Community Inclusiveness for People Living With Dementia.


Baker, A., Rimkeit, B. S., & Claridge, G. (2018). 
New Zealand Library & Information Management Journal, 57(1).

This discussion paper outlines the experience of one community in New Zealand, Nelson, in setting up and running a dementia-friendly book group in the public library, and describes the benefits and limitations of this project. A particular set of adapted classical texts was used for these book groups.

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New Zealand.


Cheung, G., & Peri, K. (2017).
In L. A. Yates, J. Yates,  M. Orrell, A. Spector, A., & B. Woods (Eds.). (2017). Cognitive Stimulation Therapy for Dementia: History, Evolution and Internationalism.
New Zealand Journal of Psychology, 33(3), 163-170.

An overview of the authors’ work on cognitive stimulation therapy in New Zealand, including a stock take, pilot and training of facilitators.

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A Review of the Research Literature for the Use of Music and Music Therapy in the Setting of Dementia and How This Informs an Approach to Service Delivery by Music Moves Me Trust.


Jones, V. A. (2016). 
New Zealand Journal of Music Therapy, 14, 162.

Music Moves Me Trust was established in the Waikato region of New Zealand in 2015 and has developed a music programme for people living with dementia in aged residential care facilities. This article aims to support the argument that a non-pharmacological approach to BPSD is available. It will also review the current literature on each aspect of our music programme and examine future research directions.

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Group Sessions With Paro in a Nursing Home: Structure, Observations and Interviews.


Robinson, H., Broadbent, E., & MacDonald, B. (2016).
Australasian Journal on Ageing, 35(2), 106-112.

The authors previously reported that a companion robot reduced residents’ loneliness in a randomised controlled trial at an aged‐care facility. This report aims to provide additional, previously unpublished data about how the sessions were run, residents’ interactions with the robot and staff perspectives. This study supports other research showing that Paro has psychosocial benefits and provides guidance for those wishing to use Paro in a group setting in aged care.

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Visiting the Museum Together: Evaluating a Programme at Auckland Museum for People Living With Dementia and Their Carers.


McGuigan, K. A., Legget, J. A., & Horsburgh, M. (2015). 
Arts & Health, 7(3), 261-270.

This report discusses the development, delivery and evaluation of a six-week programme for people living with dementia and their carers at Auckland Museum in 2014. The programme, delivered by specialist volunteers, was evaluated through observation, focus groups and interviews. Overall, the programme expanded community opportunities for people with dementia and their carers and was considered a success in fostering socialisation and providing a positive, shared experience.

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Evaluating Person-Centred Care and Dementia Care Mapping in a Psychogeriatric Hospital in New Zealand: A Pilot Study.


Bone, C., Cheung, G., & Wade, B. (2010). 
New Zealand Journal of Occupational Therapy, 57(1), 35-40.

This pilot study used Dementia Care Mapping (DCM) in a long-term psychogeriatric hospital in New Zealand. The findings suggest that occupational and psychosocial interventions can improve the quality of care and, in turn, the well-being of people living with dementia.

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Using Music To Decrease Disruptive Vocalisations in a Man With Dementia.


Locke, J. M., & Mudford, O. C. (2010). 
Behavioural Interventions, 25(3), 253-260.

Music played through headphones was noted to reduce the disruptive chanting and speech‐like vocalisations of a 68‐year‐old man who lived in a secure dementia unit. The data suggest that music provided an alternative source of auditory stimulation.

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