Ten minutes of social interaction a day can improve the well-being of people with dementia

Only ten minutes a day of social interaction could improve the well-being of people with dementia, according to a study by the University of Exeter and King & College of London (United Kingdom), in badociation with the Institute of Social Assistance for Excellence (SCIE), which was presented at the Conference of the Association International Alzheimer's (AAIC).

This finding belongs to Wellness and Health Program for Persons with Dementia (WHELD), which trained home care staff to increase the social interaction of two minutes a day at ten o'clock combined with a personalized attention program.

How It Works: involves simple measures, such as talking to residents about their interests and involving them in decisions related to their care.

Study involving 280 residents and nursing staff in 24 residences for nine months. Caregivers participated in an online learning program with or without Skype supervision.

Then they compared the results with the usual care. Both treatments improved residents' well-being and staff attitudes . However, it was shown that the program with Skype improved the well-being of these residents for four months after the end of the test

"In a traditionally task-oriented work environment, our program it reminds us of the human side, the life experience of all those who live with dementia it made them see dementia through the eyes of those who suffer from it, all with an approach simple, e-learning-based, "notes Joanne McDermid, of King's College London.