The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #34738

Martina E. O'Brien, MA¹, Janet K. Belsky, PhD², Dana K. Fuller, PhD², and Belinda Traughber, PhD². (1) Adult Day Care Program Director, St. Clair Street Senior Center, 325 St. Clair Street, Murfreesboro, TN 37130, 615-848-2550, tinavin@dtccom.net, (2) Department of Psychology, Middle Tennessee State University, P.O Box 0087, Murfreesboro, TN 37132

Although day centers are a fixture on the gerontological landscape, there have been no studies to evaluate the impact of day care programming on the elderly participants' mental health. Although its impact on caregivers has been thoroughly probed, the day care experience has never been explored from the recipient point of view. This study remedies both gaps. It is the first to examine day care from the older person's perspective. It tests the impact of an innovative day care intervention on multiple dimensions of mental health. Nine cognitively impaired day center attendees were trained in relaxation, mindfulness, sensory awareness, and guided imagery over a ten-week period. The 60 minute weekly sessions and regular booster treatments were adapted from a prior nursing home intervention (Lantz, Buchalter, & McBee, 1997). Diverse outcome measures were given to the older adults: The Mini-Mental State Examination, the Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form, and a self-report scale assessing quality of life (Quality of Life-Alzheimer's Disease). The day care provider and primary caregivers also completed the quality of life measure plus the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory pre and post-test. Finally, participants evaluated the intervention via an exit questionnaire. Although the quantitative findings were mixed--improvements in caregiver and participant-rated, but not provider-rated, quality of life; no change in cognition, depression, and agitation-- qualitative observations revealed success. Despite their cognitive deficits, the older people could reliably report on their mental state. Hopefully, this pioneering effort will herald attention to the positive potential effects of our nation's adult day cares.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to

• Impliment a 10-week relaxation intervention for use with demented elderly.
• Assess the intervention as to effects on cognition, depression, agitation, and quality of life in persons with Alzheimer's Disease and other dementias.

Keywords: Dementia, Elderly

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employee of the Senior Center where the thesis research was conducted