Does the Well‐Being of Individuals with Down Syndrome and Dementia Improve When Using Life Story Books and Rummage Boxes? A Randomized Single Case Series Experiment

Abstract

Background: This study investigated whether a personalised life story book and rummage box enhanced well-being and led to changes in behaviour for people with Down syndrome (DS) who have dementia.

Life story books for people with dementia: a systematic review

“…All included studies concerned people with dementia: Ten studies concerned people with mild to moderate dementia, one study very mild to mild, one mild to severe, one different stages, and one severe dementia. In the study of Crook et al (2016), the participants suffered from mild to moderate dementia and had Down syndrome. A total of nine LSB interventions were carried out for individuals, whereas the other five were dyadic interventions.…”

“…A total of nine LSB interventions were carried out for individuals, whereas the other five were dyadic interventions. The mean age varied between 58.6 (Crook et al, 2016) and 92.8 years (Andrews-Salvia et al, 2003). Eleven studies involved both men and women, three only women.…”

“…In eight studies, a tangible LSB was created. In three studies, both a traditional and another type of LSB was formed, namely a digital book (Ingersoll-Dayton et al, 2016), a rummage box (Crook et al, 2016), and a pen picture (McKeown et al, 2013). In three studies, only a digital version was created: both studies by Hashim et al (2013; worked with a digital application and the study of Subramaniam and Woods (2016) used previously constructed tangible LSBs as input to create a digital life story movie.…”

Improving services for people with learning disabilities and dementia: Findings from a service evaluation exploring the perspectives of health and social care professionals

“…Since then, there has been some research into components of care, staff knowledge and management strategies and environmental factors for people with learning disabilities and dementia living in group homes and special care units (De Vreese et al., ; Janicki, Zendell, & DeHaven, ; Iacono, Bigby, Carling‐Jenkins, & Torr, ). Initial small‐scale studies of the use of reminiscence therapy, Singing for the Brain sessions and personalised life story books and rummage boxes suggest that these interventions are acceptable to people with learning disabilities and staff and have the potential to lead to positive outcomes such as supporting communication, memory, social engagement, choice, mood and well‐being (Crook, Adams, Shorten, & Langdon, ; Stueber & Hassiotis, ; Ward & Parkes, 2015).…”

Service provision in Scotland for people with an intellectual disability and dementia: adherence to good practice guidelines

“…Research suggests that approaches such as the use of life story books can improve the wellbeing of people with an intellectual disability and dementia, although study sample sizes are often small (e.g. Crook et al, 2016). Approaches such as life story work can, however, be challenging to implement (e.g.…”