An exploratory study into the experience of An exploratory study into the experience of

reminiscence therapy amongst people with reminiscence therapy amongst people with

dementia and their caregivers in Irelanddementia and their caregivers in Ireland

Treena Parsons Treena Parsons –– February 2010February 2010

Treena ParsonsTreena Parsons

PhD Student, DSIDCPhD Student, DSIDC‘‘s Living with Dementia Research Programmes Living with Dementia Research Programme

The Dementia Services Information and Development CentreThe Dementia Services Information and Development Centre

School of Social Work and Social Policy, Trinity College DublinSchool of Social Work and Social Policy, Trinity College Dublin

Supervisor: Dr Suzanne CahillSupervisor: Dr Suzanne Cahill

DementiaDementia

Risk of developing dementia increases with age. For AlzheimerRisk of developing dementia increases with age. For Alzheimer’’ssdisease the prevalence rises from approximately 1% in persons undisease the prevalence rises from approximately 1% in persons underder65 to more than 25% for those over 85. 65 to more than 25% for those over 85. ( ( www.dementia.iewww.dementia.ie ))

The changing demographic trend in Ireland is expected to lead toThe changing demographic trend in Ireland is expected to lead to ananincrease in the elderly population increase in the elderly population ((www.cso.iewww.cso.ie) ) which will impact on thewhich will impact on thenumber of people with dementia.number of people with dementia.

Using 2006 census information and EURODEM protocols, it isUsing 2006 census information and EURODEM protocols, it isestimated that currently approximately 38,000 people are living estimated that currently approximately 38,000 people are living ininIreland with some form of dementia Ireland with some form of dementia (Diaz(Diaz--Ponce 2008)Ponce 2008)

OO’’Shea has predicted that by 2036, the number of people withShea has predicted that by 2036, the number of people withDementia in Ireland will be approximately 103,998 Dementia in Ireland will be approximately 103,998 (O(O’’Shea 2007)Shea 2007)

ReminiscenceReminiscence

For the purpose of this thesis, the definition of reminiscence uFor the purpose of this thesis, the definition of reminiscence used issed is

taken from the 2005 Cochrane review of Reminiscence Therapy fortaken from the 2005 Cochrane review of Reminiscence Therapy for

dementia which describes Reminiscence Therapy as involving dementia which describes Reminiscence Therapy as involving

““the discussion of past activities, events and experiences the discussion of past activities, events and experiences

with another person or group of people, usually with the with another person or group of people, usually with the

aid of tangible prompts such as photographs, household aid of tangible prompts such as photographs, household

and other familiar items from the past, music and archive and other familiar items from the past, music and archive

sound recordingssound recordings”” ((Woods et al 2005)Woods et al 2005)

My Thesis My Thesis –– reasons for choosing this reasons for choosing this

topictopic

1. My background – Care Management

2. Why reminiscence might be relevant to people with dementia

3. Psycho-social models of dementia, the work of Kitwood and Sabat.

KitwoodKitwood’’s cluster of psychological s cluster of psychological

needsneeds

Kitwood 1997

The work of SabatThe work of Sabat

Sabat 2005

Reasons for choosing this topic

� Quantitative work existing on outcomes, processes, settings

� The experiences of taking part in Reminiscence Therapy

� The voice of the person with dementia, their carers –formal and informal

� Harmer and Orrell study – looking at meaningful activity for people with dementia living in care homes –reminiscence emerged as a theme – used focus groups with people with dementia, staff and family carers (Harmer and Orrell 2008)

� Case study research – Mills and Coleman 1994

Reminiscence and dementia Reminiscence and dementia –– the the

literatureliterature

Reminiscence and dementia Reminiscence and dementia –– the the

literatureliterature

Reminiscence Therapy Reminiscence Therapy –– outcomes outcomes

associated with associated with

This ThesisThis Thesis-- Key Research Questions:Key Research Questions:

Qualitative studyQualitative study

A multiple case study approachA multiple case study approach

Purposive sampling Purposive sampling –– maximum variationmaximum variation

Case studies Case studies

Data Collection Data Collection –– MMSE, semiMMSE, semi--structured interview schedules, structured interview schedules,

observationsobservations

Analysis Analysis –– all interviews will be taped and transcribed and with the rest all interviews will be taped and transcribed and with the rest

of the data analysed with emerging themes identified using a of the data analysed with emerging themes identified using a

Phenomenological approach.Phenomenological approach.

Research Methods

Work to dateWork to date

Pilot Study FindingsPilot Study Findings

Future DevelopmentsFuture Developments

parsonct@tcd.ie