Social aspect of activity stimuli is related to positive affect in persons with Alzheimer's disease
- Department Human Development (0416), Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
- Correspondence to Shannon E Jarrott
Department Human Development (0416), Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA; sjarrott{at}vt.edu
Implications for nursing practice
-
■ Social stimuli, including simulated stimuli, generate the most positive affect among persons with moderate to severe dementia compared with various other types of stimuli.
-
■ Nursing home residents with Alzheimer's benefit from increased pleasure and interest during activities that involve social stimuli, particularly when it reflects their self-identity.
Implications for nursing research
-
■ There is a need to extend current findings by determining how to sustain mean levels of positive affect over extended periods during the day.
-
■ Techniques to effectively deliver social stimuli to small groups need further evaluation as most facilities cannot offer one-on-one programming.
-
■ Methods by which pleasure and interest are enhanced merit further research to clarify whether the content of activity programming or the means …
