Effect of individual reminiscence for older adults with mild to moderate dementia in nursing homes

Inclusion criteria: 1. Aged 60 years or over 2. Diagnosed with major neurocognitive disorder according to DSM‐V criteria with a Mini‐Mental State Examination <24 and >10 3. Considered by their physician or nurses to have mental capacity and sufficient verbal communication abilities to engage with the study 4. Living in a study nursing home Exclusion criteria: 1. Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) > 24 and < 10 2. Verbal communication issues which prevent engagement with the study. Initial study: Study participants are randomly allocated to one of two groups. Control group: Participants continue to receive normal care only. Intervention group: Participants take part standardized reminiscence therapy, based on the Solcos model (standardized individual reminiscence sessions around selected themes during a scheduled period guided by a facilitator). Two 45 minute sessions are arranged each week, delivered by trained nursing home volunteer as facilitator, for an 8 week period. Each week, one of four standardized topics will be explored (family, profession, holiday and games). The selected topics are based on our review of the literature, a previous pilot study and through involvement of nursing home residents and family caregivers during the project‐planning phase. The purpose of the preliminary interview is to determine individual interests, establish access to artifacts such as photographs or other small items which family and friends will be asked to provide to supplement the contents of 4 personalized memory boxes, one for each theme. Each session is structured with an introduction and round off phase of 15 minutes and a reminiscence phase of 30 minutes. The sessions take place in the resident’s bedroom or a small private lounge in the care facility. Both environments are familiar places to the participants and had homely décor. Follow up study: Study participants are randomly allocated to one of three groups. Control group: Participants continue to receive normal care only. Intervention group: Participants take part in standardized reminiscence therapy, using the three elements of the Solcos model, namely process, items and outcomes. The process component described the standard approach for the facilitator to use to interview participants with a raising awareness of their own characteristics and perspectives as well as the personalized context of the participants (e.g. family, home, community, and life role). The items component Initial study: 1. Cognition is assessed using the Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) screening tool at baseline and 8 weeks 2. Frontal lobe function is assessed using the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) at baseline and 8 weeks 3. Behavioural disturbances are assessed using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) at baseline and 8 weeks 4. Depression symptoms are assessed using the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD) at baseline and 8 weeks Follow up study: 1. Cognition assessed using the Mini‐Mental Examination (MMSE) screening tool at baseline and 8 weeks 2. Behavioural disturbances are assessed using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) at baseline and 8 weeks 3. Depression symptoms are assessed using the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD) at baseline and 8 weeks 4. Quality of life assessed with the dedicated scale QUALIDEM at baseline and 8 weeks Secondary outcomes for both the initial study and follow up study completed by facilitators in the intervention group: 1. Residents’ attention and participation during the session measured using a 10‐item survey after each session 2. Session conditions and facilitators’ experiences measured using an 11‐item survey after each session