Effects of Multisensory Stimulation on a Sample of Institutionalized Elderly People With Dementia Diagnosis

Abstract

Long-term effects of multisensory stimulation were assessed using a "Snoezelen" room on older residents with dementia. Thirty patients were randomly assigned to 3 groups: multisensory stimulation environment (MSSE) group, individualized activities (activity) group, and control group. The MSSE and activity groups participated in two 30-minute weekly individualized intervention sessions over 16 weeks. Pre-, mid-, posttrial, and 8-week follow-up behavior, mood, cognitive, and functional impairment in basic activities of daily living were registered. Items included in the physically nonaggressive behavior factor improved significantly in post- versus pretrial in the MSSE group compared to the activity group, with no significant differences between MSSE and control groups. The MSSE and activity groups demonstrated behavior improvements and higher scores on the Cohen-Mansfield agitation inventory, verbal agitated behavior factor, and Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Nursing Home, with no significant differences between groups. The MSSE could have long-term positive effects on such neuropsychiatric symptoms in older people with dementia.

Investigating the effect of multisensory stimulation on depression and anxiety of the elderly nursing home residents: A randomized controlled trial

“…The intervention through multisensory stimulation also demonstrates decreased anxiety and depression. Instead of the multisensory stimulation, the one‐to‐one attention ascertains the positive effect on the mood of patients; accordingly, the one‐to‐one therapy can avert the deteriorating of depressive symptomatology in dementia patients . Positive aspects of one‐to‐one therapies, such as MSSE, include the higher time and effort spent with dementia patients, the perceived qualitative shift in the association between patients and the staff, and finally, the improvement in elderly care …”

Multisensory Stimulation on Mood, Behavior, and Biomedical Parameters in People With Dementia

“…A computer-based random number generator was used to randomly divide the sample into 3 groups of 10 participants. 21 The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee at the University of A Coruña (Spain). Before beginning data collection, all participants' proxies were informed about the study.…”

Multisensory exercise programme improves cognition and functionality in institutionalized older adults: A randomized control trial

“…Based on this information, the practice of multisensory exercises can promote older adults physical and mental health, especially those who reside in LTCF and are otherwise not sufficiently stimulated; in other words, offering physical or sensory stimuli is important for promoting their physical and mental health. In addition, studies of the use of multisensory exercises in institutionalized older adults remain inconclusive, have only questionnaires as assessment tools (Oliveira et al, ; Ward‐Smith et al, ), or address only individuals with dementia (Baker et al, ; Maseda et al, ). Considering the above and the increasing number of older adults in care facilities (Oliveira et al, ), it is appropriate to investigate the influence of multisensory exercises on the cognitive and physical aspects of this population.…”