The Brookdale Foundation, “Self Stories: Improving Memory by Recalling Moments from the Past.”
(Kate de Medeiros, PhD, Principal Investigator). (2 year study) The study will test an innovative approach to improve autobiographical memory in older persons – participation in a structured autobiographical writing (AW) workshop. After completing a battery of tests for memory, mood, and wellbeing, healthy older adults (65 and older) will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: 1) a structured AW workshop; 2) an oral reminiscence group; or 3) a non-treated (wait-list) control group. All participants will be re-tested at two additional points in time.
The Alzheimer’s Association, “The Social Environments of People with Dementia in Long-Term Care.” (Kate de Medeiros, PhD, Principal Investigator) (2 year study) People with dementia living in nursing homes and assisted living facilities are faced with many personal challenges, including forming new friendships, feeling “at home,” and finding social activities that are enjoyable. The purpose of the study is to closely examine the social environment of people with dementia We will spend six months observing and videotaping twenty residents within an assisted living wing of a residential long-term care facility for people with dementia with a special interest in which residents seem to enjoy socializing (or not) with each other, what are key qualities of socialization among residents, and other factors that help create a positive social environment. Information gained from our study will be used to develop a tool to help administrators and staff members in long-term care facilities maximize the social potential of residents with dementia by placing them in the most optimal social environments.
The National Institute on Aging, “Lifestyles and Generativity of Childless Older Women”
(Kate de Medeiros, PhD, Co-Investigator) (4-year study) There has been a great deal of concern in recent years about filial caregiving for the elderly. However, about 20% of those persons age 65 and older have no children. The major specific aim of this proposed study is to examine the situations of childless elderly women with an eye towards issues of caregiving, generativity (or how a person invests him or herself in future generations), and lifestyles. The proposed research would shed important new light on the caregiving and maintenance needs of this population.
The Neuropsychiatric Inventory - Clinician Rating (NPI-C) (Kate de Medeiros, PhD, Principal Investigator) Neuropsychiatric Symptoms (NPS) affect almost all patients with dementia and are a major focus of study and treatment. The measurement of NPS is a crucial aspect of dementia research especially in clinical trials for the development of new treatments targeting dementia itself, individual NPS or NPS groups. The overall objective of this study is to assess the reliability and concurrent validity of the NPI-C at several U.S. and international sites. At the conclusion of the project, it is anticipated that the NPI-C will provide a single versatile method of rating NPS that can be used in a range of clinical trials. The expanded NPI-C features will allow it to be used as either a “broad spectrum” measure or to utilize specific domains when a study calls for in-depth monitoring of a limited set of domains.
Digital Photo Frames (private donor funded); (Kate de Medeiros, Phd, Principal Investigator) The purpose of our study is to determine the effectiveness of two strategies in reducing agitated behavior in exit seeking and/or “homesick” residents: traditional photo albums or digital photo frames with sound. Recently, portable digital photo frames with audio capability have become available. These devices can store digital photographs and sound, such as a message from a family member or a loved one narrating the story behind a given photo, and can be programmed to change images every few seconds. In a dementia setting, digital photo frames may offer several advantages over traditional photo albums including sharper contrast; ability to keep the viewer’s attention by automatically changing pictures; and enhancing recognition through voice accompaniment.