Cognitive Stimulation Therapy for Residents With Dementia in Nursing Homes

Description

The goal of this experimental study is to learn if cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) helps improve cognitive functioning and engagement in individuals with mild-to-moderate dementia who reside in skilled nursing facilities. It will also help introduce CST into long-term care facilities in the Northern Kentucky region and provide evidence to support reimbursement for occupational therapy (OT) services in memory care. The main question it aims to answer is: Is there a significant difference in cognitive functioning and engagement between individuals with mild-to-moderate dementia who reside in skilled nursing facilities and receive cognitive stimulation compared to individuals receiving maintenance-level services? Researchers will compare CST (themed grouped sessions with activites related to their childhood, sounds, word and number games, current affairs, being creative, word association, physical games, quizzes, and orientation) to maintenance-level services (activities performed in the activities room) to see if there is a significant difference in cognition and engagement in residents who receive CST versus their regular maintenance level services. Participants will receive either CST or maintenance-level services for 45-minutes twice weekly for 7-weeks led by two doctor of occupational therapy students under the supervision of a licensed occupational therapist in the state of Indiana and the sites activity director, complete assessments before and after the 7-weeks to measure changes in cognitive function and engagement, along with participating in a screening assessment before the start of the study. This study will also support the OT profession by enhancing practitioners' skills in dementia care and contributing evidence for policy and reimbursement discussions.

Conditions

Dementia in Nursing Home

Study Overview

Study Details

Study overview

The goal of this experimental study is to learn if cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) helps improve cognitive functioning and engagement in individuals with mild-to-moderate dementia who reside in skilled nursing facilities. It will also help introduce CST into long-term care facilities in the Northern Kentucky region and provide evidence to support reimbursement for occupational therapy (OT) services in memory care. The main question it aims to answer is: Is there a significant difference in cognitive functioning and engagement between individuals with mild-to-moderate dementia who reside in skilled nursing facilities and receive cognitive stimulation compared to individuals receiving maintenance-level services? Researchers will compare CST (themed grouped sessions with activites related to their childhood, sounds, word and number games, current affairs, being creative, word association, physical games, quizzes, and orientation) to maintenance-level services (activities performed in the activities room) to see if there is a significant difference in cognition and engagement in residents who receive CST versus their regular maintenance level services. Participants will receive either CST or maintenance-level services for 45-minutes twice weekly for 7-weeks led by two doctor of occupational therapy students under the supervision of a licensed occupational therapist in the state of Indiana and the sites activity director, complete assessments before and after the 7-weeks to measure changes in cognitive function and engagement, along with participating in a screening assessment before the start of the study. This study will also support the OT profession by enhancing practitioners' skills in dementia care and contributing evidence for policy and reimbursement discussions.

Cognitive Stimulation Therapy for Residents With Dementia in Skilled Nursing Facilities: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Cognitive Stimulation Therapy for Residents With Dementia in Nursing Homes

Condition
Dementia in Nursing Home
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Lawrenceburg

Ridgewood Health Campus, Lawrenceburg, Indiana, United States, 47025

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * Provide informed consent
  • * Diagnosis of mild-to-moderate dementia according to the DSM-V as determined by a score of 10-25 on the MoCA
  • * Living in a long-term care facility
  • * Engaging in at least 45 minutes a week of recreational or social activities
  • * Aged 18 years or older
  • * Adequate English proficiency, vision, hearing, and speech to participate in groups
  • * Sufficient ability in communication to participate in assessments and CST sessions
  • * Scores in mid-range on the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-Cog)
  • * Prior CST treatment
  • * History of a learning disability or traumatic brain injury
  • * Participation in a concurrent clinical trial
  • * Receiving hospice care
  • * Scores in high-range on the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-Cog)

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Collaborators and Investigators

Northern Kentucky University,

Study Record Dates

2025-08-22