Thirty-six long term care residents with dementia and agitation were selected for participation in this eight week study. During the eight week J period, the participants received two different four week therapeutic recreation interventions in a clinical crossover design. These interventions included a sensorimotor program and a traditional activity program. The effects of these two programs were evaluated in terms of the effect on strength, flexibility, over all functioning, and agitation. The analysis showed that there was a significant improvement of grip strength, flexibility, and a reduction in agitation during the sensorimotor segment of the treatment. The results of this study indicate a new direction for therapeutic recreation specialists working with older adults with dementia and agitation.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
1. Warshaw G, Gwyther L, Phillips L, & Koff T: Alzheimer's Disease: An Overview of Primary Care, Tucson: University of Arizona Health Sciences Center Press. 1996.
2.
2. Sloane P: What makes special care units special?Alzheimer's '95 Conference, SUNY Health Science Center, Syracuse, NY, June 1995.
3.
3. Mentes J, Ferrario J, & Buettner L: Using a therapeutic recreationnursing team to reduce agitation in nursing home residents with dementia. Paper presented at the Ithaca College Gerontology Institute Alzheimer's Symposium, Ithaca, NY, May 1995.
4.
4. Cohen-Mansfield J, & Billig N: Agitated behaviors in the elderly: I. A conceptual review. Journal of American Geriatric Society. 1986; 34,711-721.
5.
5. Cohen-Mansfield J: Agitated behaviors in the elderly:II. Preliminary results in the cognitively deteriorated. Journal of American Geriatric Society. 1986; 34, 722-731.
6.
6. Buettner L, Martin S: Never too old, too sick, or too bad for T.R. In G. Hitzhusen & J. Gigstad (Eds.), Global therapeutic recreation III. (pp. 135-140). Columbia, MO: University of Missouri Press. 1994.
7.
7. Cohen-Mansfield J, Werner P, Marx M: Observational data on time use and behavior problems in the nursing home. Journal of Applied Gerontology. 1992; 11, 114-117.
8.
8. Cohen-Mansfield J: Management of problem behaviors. In M. Harper (Ed.), Management and care of the elderly. (pp. 314-329). Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications. 1991.
9.
9. Buettner L, Kernan B, Carroll C: T.R. for frail elderly: A new approach. In G. Hitzhusen & J. Gigstad (Eds.), Global therapeutic recreation 1. (pp. 82-88). Columbia, MO: University of Missouri Press. 1990.
10.
10. Rabinovich B, & Cohen-Mansfield J: The impact of participation in structured recreational activities on the agitated behavior of nursing home residents: An observational study. Research Monograph 60 of the Hebrew Home of Greater Washington. 1991.
11.
11. Rovner B, Steele C, & Schumley Y: A randomized trial of dementia care in nursing homes, Journal of American Geriatrics Society. 1996; 44 (1), 7-13.
12.
12. Boyd J, Frieden S, Higley K, & Spencer P: Alzheimer's Association Training Manual. St. Louis Chapter of Alzheimer's Association. St. Louis: MO. 1991.
13.
13. Butcher C, Shivers J, & Bucher R: Recreation for today's society. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall. 1984.
14.
14. Eslinger P, Damsio A: Perserved motor learning in Alzheimer's disease: Implications for anatomy and behavior. The Journal of Neuroscience. 1986; 6(10), 3006-3009.
15.
15. Van Hoesen G, Damasio A, & Hyman B: Perforant pathway destruction and other temporal lobe pathology in Alzheimer's disease. Neurology. 1985; 34, 219-219.
16.
16. Kemp B & Mitchell J: Functional assessment in geriatric mental health. In Birren, J., Sloane, B., & Cohen, G. (Eds.), Handbook of Mental Health and Aging. (pp.672-694). San Diego, CA: Academic Press. 1992.
17.
17. Cohen-Mansfield J, Marx M, & Rosenthal A: Dementia and agitation in nursing home residents: How are they related?Psychology and Aging. 1990; 5,(l), 3-8.
18.
18. Williams M, & Jones T: Predicting functional outcome in older people. In Principles of Geriatric Medicine. pp. 1212-1219, New York: McGraw-Hill Publishers. 1990.
19.
19. Meyers C, Blesh E: Measurement in Physical Education. New York: The Ronald Press. 1962.
20.
20. Buettner L: Utilizing developmental theory and adapted equipment with regressed geriatric patients in therapeutic recreation, Therapeutic Recreation Journal. 1988; 22 (3), 72-79.
21.
21. Buettner L, Martin S: Therapeutic Recreation for the Nursing Home. State College, PA: Venture Publishing. 1995.
22.
22. Aronson A, Olsen R, Schulman E: The nursing assistants use of recreational interventions for behavioral management of residents with Alzheimer's disease, American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. 1996; May/June, 26-31.
23.
23. Perschbacher R: Assessment: The cornerstone of activity programs. State College, PA: Venture Publishing. 1993.
