The Efficacy of Using Volunteers to Implement a Cognitive Stimulation Program in Two Long-Term Care Homes

NCT ID: NCT01818778

Last Updated: 2014-05-16

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 52 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2013-05-31
• Study Completion Date: 2013-07-31

Brief Summary

Many volunteers visiting seniors make socially-based "friendly visits". This study investigated the efficacy of volunteers making visits focused on stimulating cognition. Participants were randomly assigned to either a "friendly visit" control group or a cognitive stimulation group. Seniors receiving stimulation visits made statistically significant improvement in memory abilities.

Detailed Description

Older adults who maintain their cognitive skills and abilities are able to live more independently than those whose skills have deteriorated. The costs (money, time, personnel) associated with providing cognitive stimulation programs to residents in long-term care homes often prohibit the delivery of these programs. The present study explored the efficacy of using volunteers to administer a stimulation program in two long-term care homes. The program focused on stimulating reasoning, attention, and memory abilities using uncomplicated, pen-and-paper exercises. Thirty-six resident participants and 16 volunteer participants were randomly assigned to one of two parallel groups, either the control or stimulation group.

For eight weeks, three times each week, control group participants met for standard "friendly visits" (casual conversation between a resident and volunteer) and stimulation group participants met to work through a variety of exercises meant to stimulate the cognitive abilities of residents. Results were analyzed using a 2-way ANOVA and indicated statistically significant Group x Time interactions for Verbal Memory (F(1, 33) = 7.92, p = .008), Non-Verbal Memory (F(1, 33) = 6.8, p = .014), Learning (F(1, 33) = 5.27, p = .028), and Verbal Fluency (F (1, 33) = 5.56, p = .024).

Volunteers completed a post-study questionnaire which indicated that the volunteers in the stimulation group found their skills-based interactions more stimulating for residents. Given this showing of improved resident abilities, it is reasonable to assert that the study does demonstrate that a volunteer-administered, cognitive stimulation program can provide measurable gains in the cognitive abilities of older adults. Further studies concerning the role of volunteers in the maintenance of the cognitive abilities of older adults are recommended.

Conditions

Impaired Cognition; Geriatric Disorder; Learning Disorders; Age-Related Memory Disorders; Impairment of Attention

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: SUPPORTIVE_CARE
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Stimulation Group

Cognitive Stimulation Group: One-on-one (one volunteer visiting one resident at a time), stimulation-group residents and stimulation-group volunteers met 3 times each week, for 8 weeks, to work through a variety of memory, reasoning, and selective attention exercises. Each visit was 20 minutes in length.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Cognitive stimulation program

Intervention Type: OTHER

The stimulation program was composed of therapy- and education-based exercises which were specifically designed to stimulate reasoning, memory, and attention skills in adults.

Control Group

Standard "Friendly Visit": Control-group residents and control-group volunteers, one-on-one, met for 8 weeks, 3 times each week, for "friendly visits". Each visit was 20 minutes in length.

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Standard Friendly Visit

Intervention Type: OTHER

Volunteers provided standard "friendly visits" to residents which included a friendly greeting and casual conversation about issues which interest the resident.

Interventions

Cognitive stimulation program

The stimulation program was composed of therapy- and education-based exercises which were specifically designed to stimulate reasoning, memory, and attention skills in adults.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Standard Friendly Visit

Volunteers provided standard "friendly visits" to residents which included a friendly greeting and casual conversation about issues which interest the resident.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• 65 years and over
• living in a long-term care home
• normal or corrected visual and auditory acuity
• English proficiency
• not currently using de-stabilizing, psychotropic medication known to impair cognition
• ability and willingness to actively listen to and accurately follow 2-step instructions for at least 20 consecutive minutes

• Minimum Eligible Age: 65 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Baycrest

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Queen's University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Dr. John Kirby

Ph.D.

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

John Kirby, Ph.D.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Queen's University

Locations

Baycrest

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Countries

Canada

Other Identifiers

Queens-Baycrest 65

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id