‘Now I can bend and meet people virtually in my home’: The experience of a remotely supervised online chair yoga intervention and visual socialisation among older adults with dementia

Abstract

Background Little research has been conducted on telehealth‐based interventions in older adults. There has been no study of the use of telehealth‐based online chair yoga (CY) to improve physical activity and manage dementia symptoms and socialisation for older adults with dementia who are socially isolated. Objectives The study identified benefits, challenges and facilitators in participating in remotely supervised online CY from the perspective of older adults with dementia and their caregivers, including what would help them to participate in online interventions. Methods In a qualitative descriptive design, four online focus groups (two pre‐intervention and two post‐intervention) conducted via videoconference explored the benefits, challenges and facilitators in participating in a remotely supervised twice‐weekly, 8‐week online CY intervention. A total of 17 participants (eight people with dementia and nine family caregivers) attended the focus groups. The data were subjected to thematic analysis. Results Thematic analysis of data identified three themes from the perspectives of older adults with dementia and their caregivers: (a) benefits (e.g. sleep and relaxation, emotional regulation, flexibility, muscle strength, convenience, caregiver–participant connection), (b) challenges (e.g. technological setup) and (c) lessons learned (e.g. inclusion of caregiver, yoga instructor, visual cues, socialisation, safety). The online intervention was beneficial to participants, who reported that they wanted to continue home‐based online CY practice. Conclusion Convenience was the major advantage for the participant to continue to practice online CY. The online intervention offered virtual socialisation, which could be significant for motivating older adults to continue the CY program. Implications for Practice Gerontological nurses could add CY as a nonpharmacological component of a treatment plan and monitor older adults' progress during the online intervention. The home‐based online CY intervention should be prioritised to promote health and wellness in socially isolated older adults with dementia.

Feasibility and Preliminary Impact of a Web-Based Mind Body Intervention for Older Dementia Caregivers

“…44 Evidence suggests that participant convenience is a driving factor in ongoing participation in web-based MBI. 45 This was also consistent with our findings.…”

Technology-based group exercise interventions for people living with dementia or mild cognitive impairment: A scoping review

“…Table 1 outlines the characteristics of 14 eligible studies, with eight originating from the United States [ 16 , 27 – 33 ], two from Australia [ 17 , 34 ], and one each from Germany [ 35 ], Korea [ 36 ], Taiwan [ 37 ], and Brazil [ 38 ]. Among these, nine were quantitative studies (including three RCTs [ 31 , 36 , 37 ], five pre-post intervention studies[ 16 , 27 , 28 , 33 , 34 ], and one cross-sectional design [ 38 ]), three were qualitative studies [ 29 , 32 , 35 ], and two were mixed-method studies, one of which was a pre-post intervention design [ 30 ], and the other a randomized controlled crossover design [ 17 ]. Seven studies were pilot studies [ 16 , 17 , 27 – 30 , 33 ].…”

“…Study sample sizes ranged from 10 [ 17 ] to 60 [ 34 ]. In terms of the ratio of sex, 4 of the 14 studies had fewer women than men in terms of residents living with dementia or MCI [ 16 , 28 , 32 , 38 ]. Several studies did not report race/ethnicity of participants [ 17 , 34 – 38 ].…”

“…One study focused on older adults with cognitive impairment but did not require a formal dementia diagnosis, utilizing a Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score to screen for cognitive impairment [ 16 ]. Three studies broadly included all types of dementia [ 32 , 34 , 38 ]; participants in the other study included persons with AD and their caregivers [ 33 ]. In terms of setting, the majority of the studies took place in domestic settings, such as private households, ALFs, or senior living facilities.…”

“…Zoom was also used to deliver synchronous augmented dual-task TC or a stretching program to older adults with MCI for two 1-hour sessions per week for 24 weeks [ 31 ]. Zoom was used to deliver synchronous CY to persons with dementia and their caregivers for two 1-hour sessions per week for a total of 8 weeks [ 16 , 32 ]. Sari et al [ 34 ] facilitated home exercise sessions (resistance, balance, walking) by setting up Zoom software, camera, and sound equipment and provided training and supervision to participants in four out of the total 12 sessions.…”