Clinical Trial: The Efficacy of Using Volunteers to Implement a Cognitive Stimulation Program in Two Long-Term Care Homes

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: The Efficacy of Using Volunteers to Implement a Cognitive Stimulation Program in Two Long-Term Care Homes

Brief Summary: Many volunteers visiting seniors make socially-based "friendly visits". This study investigated the efficacy of volunteers making visits focused on stimulating cognition. Participants were randomly assigned to either a "friendly visit" control group or a cognitive stimulation group. Seniors receiving stimulation visits made statistically significant improvement in memory abilities.

Detailed Summary:

Older adults who maintain their cognitive skills and abilities are able to live more independently than those whose skills have deteriorated. The costs (money, time, personnel) associated with providing cognitive stimulation programs to residents in long-term care homes often prohibit the delivery of these programs. The present study explored the efficacy of using volunteers to administer a stimulation program in two long-term care homes. The program focused on stimulating reasoning, attention, and memory abilities using uncomplicated, pen-and-paper exercises. Thirty-six resident participants and 16 volunteer participants were randomly assigned to one of two parallel groups, either the control or stimulation group.

For eight weeks, three times each week, control group participants met for standard "friendly visits" (casual conversation between a resident and volunteer) and stimulation group participants met to work through a variety of exercises meant to stimulate the cognitive abilities of residents. Results were analyzed using a 2-way ANOVA and indicated statistically significant Group x Time interactions for Verbal Memory (F(1, 33) = 7.92, p = .008), Non-Verbal Memory (F(1, 33) = 6.8, p = .014), Learning (F(1, 33) = 5.27, p = .028), and Verbal Fluency (F (1, 33) = 5.56, p = .024).

Volunteers completed a post-study questionnaire which indicated that the volunteers in the stimulation group found their skills-based interactions more stimulating for residents. Given this showing of improved resident abilities, it is reasonable to assert that the study does demonstrate that a volunteer-administered, cognitive stimulation program can provide measurable gains in the cognitive abilities of older adults. Further studies concerning the role of volunteers in the maintenance of the cognitive abilities of older adults are
Sponsor: Queen's University

Current Primary Outcome: Test of Memory and Learning - Senior Edition (TOMAL-SE) [ Time Frame: 10 weeks ]

The TOMAL-SE was designed specifically for seniors and provides a thorough assessment, without being fatiguing (Reynolds & Vorees, 2012). The battery includes normative data for ages 55:0-89:11. It is a paper-based test and takes approximately 25-35 minutes to administer. It provides scores for the following indexes: Verbal Memory, Non-Verbal Memory, Delayed Memory, and Learning.


Original Primary Outcome: Test of Memory and Learning - Senior Edition (TOMAL-SE) [ Time Frame: up to 3 months ]

The TOMAL-SE was designed specifically for seniors and provides a thorough assessment without being fatiguing. The battery includes normative data for ages 55:0-89:11. It is a paper-based test and takes approximately 25-35 minutes to administer (Reynolds & Vorees, 2012). It includes six core subtests and three delayed recall tasks that evaluate general and specific memory functions. The standardized assessment yields three core memory indexes: Verbal Memory, Nonverbal Memory, and Composite Memory.


Current Secondary Outcome: Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence - Second Edition (WASI-II; Wechsler, 2011) [ Time Frame: 10 weeks ]

The WASI-II is designed to measure intelligence. The latest version, published in 2011, includes normative data for ages 6:0-90:11 years. The paper-based, two-subtest form includes the Vocabulary and Matrix Reasoning tests and provides an estimate of general cognitive ability.


Original Secondary Outcome: Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence - Second Edition (WASI-II; Wechsler, 2011) [ Time Frame: up to 3 months ]

The WASI-II is designed to measure intelligence. The latest version, published in 2011, includes normative data for ages 6:0-90:11 years. The paper-based, two-subtest form includes the Vocabulary and Matrix Reasoning tests and provides an estimate of general cognitive ability.


Information By: Queen's University

Dates:
Date Received: March 19, 2013
Date Started: May 2013
Date Completion:
Last Updated: May 15, 2014
Last Verified: May 2014