Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Occupational Therapists’ Perspectives On Using The Physical Environment In Skilled Nursing Facilities, Jennie L. Digrado

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Occupational therapists (OTs) are among the health care professionals who assist individuals with neurocognitive disorders (NCDs) to engage in self-care and leisure skills in a skilled nursing facility (SNF) environment. Although the SNF environment has been researched, a gap exists regarding how OTs use the built environment to help clients with a NCD engage in self-care and leisure-related activities. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to understand how OTs use the physical environment in a SNF to help individuals with a NCD engage in self-care and leisure related activities. The conceptual framework that guided this study was the …

Development And Feasibility Testing Of An Evidence-Based Occupational Therapy Program For Adults With Both Down Syndrome And Dementia, Sujatha E. Raj, Shylie Mackintosh, Jocelyn Kernot, Caroline Fryer, Mandy Stanley

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This paper describes the development of a home-based occupational therapy intervention program for people with Down syndrome who experience early on-set dementia causing a decline in their performance skills and increasing care dependency on their informal caregivers. A six-step methodological process adapted from the Medical Research Council framework for developing and evaluating complex interventions was formulated to develop an evidence-based occupational therapy program for people with both Down syndrome and dementia and their informal caregivers. The first two steps gathered evidence through systematic reviews of the literature and determined the scope of current occupational therapy practice. The gathered evidence was …

The Management Of Newly Diagnosed Probable Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease In Acute Rehabilitation Setting: A Case Report, Royce Copeland, Shefali Amin, Anthony Donato

Advances in Clinical Medical Research and Healthcare Delivery

Abstract

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is a rare and fatal neurodegenerative disease. The purpose of this report is to demonstrate the role of inpatient rehabilitation for a patient recently diagnosed with probable Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. A 62-year-old male was readmitted to an acute care hospital after a recent mechanical fall. For several weeks, he had a constellation of symptoms, including cognitive impairment and progressive memory loss, gait and postural instability, 20 pounds of unintentional weight loss, visual hallucinations, myoclonus, and hypophonia. After an extensive workup, a diagnosis of probable Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease was made, and he was transferred to an acute inpatient rehabilitation hospital. …

Enhancing Life: Promoting Meaningful Interventions To Support Individuals With Dementia, Keelan N. Blasius

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

This capstone project focused on the implementation of meaningful interventions to support the quality of life in individuals with dementia. Those with dementia often lack the opportunity to participate in meaningful activities, leading to increased loneliness and decreased quality of life. Individual and group sessions were administered to eight participants over the course of fourteen weeks. Progress was tracked through feedback surveys and pre-test/post-test assessments. This project found that engaging in meaningful activities helps to support quality of life while also decreasing feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and depression.

Virtual Visitation: Promoting Social Occupations In Dementia Care, Carly Spina, Lizann Jovanovich, Ashley Jones, Pamela Baraceros, Rena Ribeiro

Occupational Therapy | MSOT Capstone Projects

Approximately two thirds of skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) residents in the United States have some form of cognitive impairment such as dementia (Gaugler, et.al, 2014). Care practices in SNFs highlighting safety and therapeutic exercises may further isolate and decrease social opportunities, which can contribute to sensory deprivation in this population and result in lower quality of life (Haigh & Mytton, 2015; Nakamae et al., 2014). COVID-19 visitation restrictions, as well as ongoing barriers of geographical distance, present additional challenges when seeking to engage PLwD residing in SNFs in meaningful social occupations.

Reminiscence has potential to remediate effects of isolation and …

Supporting The Role Of Professional Caregivers In Long-Term Care: Education, Training, And Caregiver Mental Health Interventions That Promote Dementia Care Excellence, Katelyn A. Nelson

Occupational Therapy Capstone Presentations

The purpose of this capstone experience was to create a dementia caregiver education program to support caregivers in their role of caring for individuals with dementia. The first four weeks of the capstone experience were spent at Emerald Crest in Burnsville, MN, learning from an occupational therapist with more than 13 years of experience. Advanced knowledge was gained through engaging in OT evaluation and intervention sessions, completing two dementia certifications, interviewing staff members to highlight the value of interdisciplinary collaboration, and applying theory to practice. Knowledge was then synthesized, applied, and built upon to create a training manual for the …

Dancing With Dementia: Using Dance And Movement To Combat The Negative Effects Of Occupational Deprivation In Skilled Nursing Facilities, Mikenzi R. Rivenbark

MOT Student Capstones

As human beings, it is natural to crave interaction with others and to engage within our surrounding environments. Unfortunately, individuals with dementia often lose their ability to independently access and participate within their environment; resulting in occupational deprivation. Occupational deprivation is seen frequently in residents with dementia within a skilled nursing facility (SNF) as they are often left disengaged and seated idle within the facility. Occupational deprivation can lead to psychological and physical illnesses, it can also enhance the progression of dementia, and result in premature death. The use of dance and movement with these residents can provide them the …

Improving Occupational Engagement: An Occupation-Based Virtual Program For Caregivers Of Individuals With Dementia, Betsabel Garcia, Pam Kasyan-Howe, Kristin Domville, Lisa Schubert

Spring 2022 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Dementia is a progressive disorder that affects many people worldwide including informal caregivers of individuals with dementia (Harrison et al., 2019). Every year, more than 16 million Americans provide more than 17 billion hours of unpaid care for family and friends with Alzheimer’s disease or other related dementias (CDC, 2019). As a result, many informal caregivers experience higher levels of caregiver burden, depression, and anxiety (Amato et al., 2021; Raj et al., 2021; Walter & Pinquart, 2020). This causes an occupational imbalance in caregivers' ability to meet their needs and those of their loved one. Leisure is within occupational therapy's …

Impact Of Coping Strategies For Caregivers Of Those With Dementia Or Alzheimer's Disease, Amanda W. Tilley

MOT Student Capstones

Caregivers of those who have Alzheimer's disease (AD) or dementia are challenged by the burdens placed on them in their role including not knowing how to use coping strategies to decrease the burden of care. There has already been research completed on how occupational therapy (OT) can help the client who has dementia or AD and how the caregiver can improve communication with person who has dementia or AD. There is a gap in the research showing how OT can help the caregivers cope with their role. OT can help with the difficulties caregivers have by teaching them coping strategies …

Developing A Resource For Optimizing Occupational Engagement In Adults With Dementia, Maria Del Carmen Rosas Ojeda

OT Student Capstones

Dementia is an umbrella term for cognitive impairments in memory, language, executive function, which may affect behavior and personality. Globally, about 50 million people have dementia, and that number is expected to reach 150 million by the year 2050 (Fortinsky et al., 2020). Dementia is a progressive disease that affects an individual’s ability to perform their daily occupations. The progression of dementia stages can be classified as early/mild, middle/moderate, and late/severe. Alzheimer’s disease makes up 60-80% of all dementia cases, although there are various other types of dementia, including Frontotemporal dementia, Lewy Body dementia, Vascular dementia, and Parkinson’s disease dementia …

Holistic Occupational Therapy Dining Interventions Supporting Individuals With Dementia In Skilled Nursing Facilities, Kathleen Osio, Sabrina Anne Cezar, Ashley Lorton, Lisa Worsham

Occupational Therapy | MSOT Capstone Projects

The purpose of this project is to provide occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) with a Holistic Occupational Therapy Dementia Dining Toolkit to enhance the dining experience in the SNF setting for individuals in all stages of dementia. Dementia is a prevalent condition seen in skilled nursing facilities (SNF) that is expected to continue to rise; in 2016, 47.8 percent of individuals living in a SNF had a diagnosis of dementia (Center of Disease Control, 2020). Dining experiences for individuals with dementia (IwD) are impacted by an individual’s cognition, physical, environmental, and psychosocial factors. Additionally, the task oriented and structured approach to …

Does Spaced Retrieval Therapy Help Improve Quality Of Life For Individuals With Dementia?, Simone E. Fleary

PCOM Physician Assistant Studies Student Scholarship

Objective: The objective of this systematic EBM review is to determine “Does Spaced Retrieval Therapy Help Improve Quality of Life for Individuals with Dementia?”

Study Design: A systemic review of three peer-reviewed randomized controlled trials (RCT) published in English between 2016-2017.

Data Sources: All peer-reviewed articles were selected using PubMed. All articles were published in English and selected based on relevance to the clinical question. Exclusion criteria excluded studies with combined intervention methods.

Outcome Measured: Assessment of instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) was determined using the IADL task score assessed by the recruiter. Improvement of hyperphagic behavior assessed by …

Physical Activity For Adl Performance In Older Adults With Dementia: A Systematic Review, Clancy Hesseltine, Josiah Heun, Murphy Porter, Sam Wyrick, Stacy Smallfield, Molly Whitlow

Student Systematized Reviews: Occupational Therapy

PURPOSE: An estimated 5.8 million people in the United States live with dementia. By the year 2060, this number is expected to climb as high as 14 million people (CDC, 2019). Performance and participation in activities of daily living (ADLs) is a primary goal of occupational therapy. Exercise intervention is an occupational therapy approach for individuals with dementia that will increase ADL performance (Giebel et al., 2015). The present study examined the effects of physical exercise to maintain or improve activities of daily living performance for adults with dementia.

DESIGN: This systematic review of systematic reviews examined whether physical activity …

The Effect Of Exercise Intervention Held In A Community Care Center On Physical Function In Elders With Dementia: A Pilot Study, Jui-Chi Hsu, Jung-Cheng Yang, Yu-Ying Chu, Yi-Chun Chein, Yi-Chen Tsai, Hsiao-Ting Tsai, Ching-Fei Lo, Yen-Ting Lai

Rehabilitation Practice and Science

The care-issue for dementia is becoming more important as the elderly dementia population rapidly increases in Taiwan. Although many studies show exercise intervention is effective in slowing the disease progression of people with dementia living in institutions, there is insufficient evidence regarding individuals with dementia living in the community. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to assess if a once a week group exercise session along with four home exercise sessions per week is effective in improving the balance, mobility, muscle strength and aerobic endurance in community dwelling elders with dementia. This study recruited 18 elders above 65 years …

Providing Care To People With Dementia: An Educational Workshop, Hannah Hardeman, Steven M. Gerardi, Emily Frank

Fall 2021 Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium

Informal (family) caregivers providing care to loved ones experiencing symptoms of dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease navigate multiple challenges. Caregivers observe and respond to changes in their loved ones related to physical, emotional and social skills. While providing care to their loved ones, caregivers must be aware of their own needs and the importance of maintaining a balance between the responsibilities of being a caregiver and the responsibilities in other areas of their life. Maintenance of positive emotional and physical health is crucial to providing effective and safe care. Identification of methods to promote the positive health of informal caregivers becomes …

Effects Of The Tailored Activity Program (Tap) On Dementia-Related Symptoms, Health Events And Caregiver Wellbeing: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Laura N Gitlin, Katherine Marx, Catherine V. Piersol, Nancy A Hodgson, Jin Huang, David L Roth, Constantine Lyketsos

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: People living with dementia (PLWD) and caregivers are adversely impacted by lack of meaningful activity leading to worse symptoms and impaired quality-of-life. There is a critical need to develop effective and well-tolerated treatments that mitigate clinical symptoms, engage PLWD and support caregiver wellbeing. We tested whether, compared to attention control, the Tailored Activity Program (TAP) reduced clinical symptoms and health-related events, and improved caregiver wellbeing, and if TAP activities were well-tolerated.

METHODS: We conducted a single-blind randomized controlled trial among 250 dyads recruited from Baltimore-Washington DC (2012-2016) with a dementia diagnosis and clinically significant agitation/aggression. Dyads were randomized to …

Down Syndrome And Dementia:: A Patient And Care-Giver Centered Approach, Mary M. Stephens, E. Adel Herge, Charmaine Wright

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.

Space Retrieval Training For Memory Enhancement In Adults With Dementia, Lauren Camenzind, Molly Kafader, Rachel Schwam, Mikayla Taylor, Zoie Wilkes, Madison Williams

Master of Occupational Therapy Student Critically Appraised Topics

The final portfolio contains 8 research articles from national and international journals. Study designs include one systematic review, one randomized control trial with pretest-posttest design, three small-scale randomized control trials, one quasi-experimental study with no control, one time-series study, and one case study. All studies relate directly to components of the evidence-based practice question and will be used to draft new recommendations for implementation regarding spaced retrieval training for memory enhancement in adults with dementia. Seven out of the eight articles looked at the effects of SR techniques on functional tasks. Articles looked at eating difficulty (1), independent use of …

Occupation-Based Volunteer Training Program To Increase Social Engagement For Residents With Dementia In Skilled Nursing Facilities, Kiyomi Kuroda, Nhat Hoang, Victoria Ramia, Kelsy Wallace

Occupational Therapy | MSOT Capstone Projects

The population of individuals with dementia (IwD) is increasing, and IwD are often admitted into skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) due to greater need for care (Alzheimer’s Association, 2020b). Admittance leads to social isolation as a result of decreased engagement in co-occupations. Co-occupations are occupations, or meaningful activities necessary for wellbeing and survival, that are performed with others (American Occupational Therapy Association [AOTA], 2014). IwD exhibit behaviors and symptoms that create challenges for family caregivers to engage in co-occupations (Ono et al., 2014). Without guidance or support, family members or volunteers may be less likely to visit or facilitate quality visits, …

Improving Cognitive Function In Persons With Dementia Through Music Therapy, Jillian Natividad

Nursing | Senior Theses

People diagnosed with dementia experience cognitive alterations that cause overwhelming challenges and lead to distinctive life changes. Declining cognitive function noticeably experienced in dementia not only inflicts difficulty with achieving independent living but increases feelings of agitation and disturbs quality of life. Advanced medical care is widely available for managing mental conditions but may not always be effective in treating cognitive changes like memory loss and confusion. Because the stages of dementia vary from person to person, medical interventions are often patient centered to effectively focus on an individual’s specific needs. With non-pharmacological methods, flexibility in adjusting to an individual’s …

Supporting Dining Occupations For Dementia Residents In Skilled Nursing Facilities, Esther Yu, Nooshin Moslehi, Vickie Nguyen, Aileen Quach, Cierra Passey, Julia Lee

Occupational Therapy | MSOT Capstone Projects

Dementia Friendly Dining provides skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) with a practice guideline and training resources for caregivers. The program is informed by existing research on environmental modifications, both physical and social, to enhance the occupations of feeding, eating, and dining for individuals with dementia (IwD) in SNF settings. The physical and social environment has a significant effect in supporting the dining experience for IwD and their caregivers (Keller et al., 2015; Hung et al, 2016; Palese et al., 2018), but many facilities have not integrated physical and social modifications, creating a gap in practice. Therefore, an evidence-based dining program that …

Benefits Of Montessori Method Use In Activity Involvement On Individuals With Dementia, Megan Canzoneri

MOT Student Capstones

Background: The Montessori Method was a teaching approach developed by Dr. Maria Montessori for children who did not have access to proper education and materials. She used this method by teaching them through familiar tasks, puzzles, and self-driven interest. This taught them independence, problem-solving, and decision make. This project discusses the use of the method within the geriatric and memory care population to help them remain independent through choosing activities that interest them. These activities consist of familiar tasks such as setting a table, washing dishes, and folding clothes. Method: This project used a needs survey, pre- and post-survey, and …

Physical Activity Guidelines For People With Alzheimer’S Disease Of Various Ambulatory And Cognitive Status, Amanda Katherine Wright

Kinesiology and Public Health

With the rapidly growing elderly population in the United States, the number of people diagnosed with dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is increasing dramatically. For these patients, it is crucial to slow the rate of progression. Research has proven that exercise improves cognition, and recent findings suggest a similar association among those with AD. However, this is complicated by the large majority of AD patients becoming non-ambulatory as the disease progresses. Thus, there is a large gap in the literature to meet the needs of non-ambulatory AD patients working to slow their disease’s progression. The first purpose of this article …

The Recognition Of Traumatic Brain Injuries As A Risk Factor For Dementia In Military Veterans: A Systematic Review, Julie Maroni, Jessica M. Monday

Student Research Poster Presentations 2021

Purpose/Hypothesis: The prevalence of traumatic brain injuries has increased over time. Following a TBI, neurodegeneration occurs which predisposes individuals to other neurological conditions such as dementia. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the relationship between TBIs and the occurrence of dementia in military veterans.

Number of subjects: Not applicable

Materials/Methods: CINAHL complete and APA PsychInfo were searched electronically between the years 2000 and 2020 in August of 2020. A second search was conducted in January of 2021 to include any new and updated research. Search terms included concussion, mild traumatic brain injury, mild tbi, mtbi, …

Interdisciplinary Community-Based Support For Caregivers Of Individuals Living With Dementia, Gina Tucker-Roghi, Jamie Escoubas, Renee Tolliver, Sarah Tucker

Occupational Therapy | Faculty Scholarship

Evidence indicates family caregivers of individuals living with dementia (ILwD) are at risk for diminished physical and mental health; which may decrease their quality of life and directly impact their ability to provide care. An interdisciplinary approach to self-care and skill-building for caregivers is provided in a virtual support group offered by Council on Aging in Sonoma County, CA. As part of the nonprofit’s Adult Day Program, the group is offered to client caregivers and has two goals: First, creating a communitybased, long-term support system for ILwD who are agingin-place; second, fostering a safe and supportive community for family caregivers, …

Benefits Of Equine-Based Therapy For Individuals With Dementia, Lauren Fearn

Student Capstone Papers

Individuals living with dementia typically experience progressive, cognitive, and functional decline which limits their ability to communicate and fully perform activities (Pimouguet el al., 2019). Horses have been shown to benefit individuals with dementia by improving well-being, physical health, functional capacity, and social relationships (Fields et. al., 2019).

A 6-week OT-based virtual equine-assisted activities program was conducted to determine if participation in equine-assisted activities could improve the quality of life of individuals with dementia. Outcomes of the program resulted in improvements in mood, energy level, engagement, communication, memory, socialization, and overall quality of life.

Development, Reliability And Validity Of The Safe Use Of Mobility Aids Checklist (Sumac) For 4-Wheeled Walker Use In People Living With Dementia., Susan W. Hunter, Alison Divine, Humberto Omana, Ed Madou, Jeffrey Holmes

Physical Therapy Publications

BACKGROUND: Balance and gait problems are common and progressive in dementia. Use of a mobility aid provides physical support and confidence. Yet, mobility aid use in people with dementia increases falls three-fold. An assessment tool of mobility aid safety in people with dementia does not currently exist. The objectives of this study were: 1) to develop a tool for the evaluation of physical function and safe use of a 4-wheeled walker in people with dementia, and 2) to evaluate its construct and criterion validity, inter-rater and test-retest reliability and minimal detectable change.

METHODS: Healthcare professionals (HCP) experienced in rehabilitation of …

Reliable And Valid Measures For The Clinical Assessment Of Balance And Gait In Older Adults With Dementia: A Systematic Review, Jacqueline Baker, Danielle De Laat, Emily Kruger, Sarah Mcrae, Sabrina Trung, Carly Zottola, Humberto Omana, Susan W. Hunter

Physical Therapy Publications

No abstract provided.

A Systematic Review Of The Efficacy Of Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (Cst) On Quality Of Life In Persons With Dementia, R. Babiarz, B. Haden, S. Karlin, J. Mark, A. Williams, M. Ferraro, M. C. Potvin

Student Papers, Posters & Projects

Quality of life (QoL) is an established outcome measure of patients with dementia and is strongly influenced by an individual's environment and mood. While there are many outcomes that can be examined with Cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) interventions, this systematic review focused on quality of life.

Brain Volumes And Dual-Task Performance Correlates Among Individuals With Cognitive Impairment: A Retrospective Analysis, Jon Basterrechea, Daniel Krist, Caitlin Moreland, Morgan Wise

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Background: Cognitive impairment (CI) is a prevalent condition characterized by loss of brain volume and changes in cognition, motor function, and dual-tasking ability. Objective: To examine associations between brain volumes, dual task performance, and gait and balance in those with CI to elucidate the mechanisms underlying loss of function. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of medical records of patients with CI and compared brain volumes, dual task performance, and measures of gait and balance. Results: Greater cognitive function and combined dual task effect (DTE) is associated with smaller brain volumes. In contrast, greater motor DTE is associated with larger …