Feasibility study of a digital screen-based calming device (MindfulGarden) for bathing-related agitation among LTC residents with dementia
Gloria Gutman PhD*, Mojgan Karbakhsh MD, Avantika Vashisht, Taranjot Kaur, Ryan Churchill BA, Amir Moztarzadeh MA
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AbstractBackground: Behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are common and disturbing and can deter or disrupt the care process. Bathing is associated with the highest frequency of BPSD, triggering a fear response in dementia patients. As part of a larger feasibility/pilot study, this investigation explored whether exposure to MindfulGarden (MG), a digital screen-based calming device, can minimize BPSD during bathing – an activity well-documented to be problematic for both residents and staff.
Objective: To determine outcome trends of exposure to MG on number and type of BPSD exhibited by residents with dementia during bathing and on staff time to undress, shower and re-dress them.
Method: 8 long-term care home residents (5F, 3M) mean age 86.00±8.16, diagnosed with dementia and reported by care staff as exhibiting BPSD were observed while being showered in their en-suite bathroom. On Days 1 and 2 staff followed the usual bathing procedure; on Day 3 exposure to MG was added. A 26-item checklist developed in a previous study, based on the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory and the work of Gutman, MacFadgen and Killam, was used to record type and frequency of BPSD, time of staff entry and exit from the resident’s room was recorded, and on Day 3 staff rated MG exposure as having a positive, neutral or negative effect.
Results: Days 1 -2 yielded highly similar results – an average of 4 BPSD per resident and an average bathing time of 13-14 minutes, with the most common BPSD on both days being physical resistance, verbal resistance, screaming, complaining, and strange noises. Subsequent to exposure to MG (Day 3) trends were observed towards reduction in number of BPSD and bathing duration.
Conclusion: MG shows some promise in calming residents, reducing resistance to care, and allowing bathing to proceed more quickly.Keywords: Digital calming device, bathing, long-term care, BPSD, resistance to care
Gloria Gutman PhD*, Mojgan Karbakhsh MD, Avantika Vashisht, Taranjot Kaur, Ryan Churchill BA, Amir Moztarzadeh MA (2021). Feasibility study of a digital screen-based calming device (MindfulGarden) for bathing-related agitation among LTC residents with dementia. Gerontechnology, 20(2), 1-8
https://doi.org/10.4017/gt.2021.20.2.439.04