Sandra Oppikofer

Die Auswirkungen sozialer Unterstützung auf das Wohlbefinden dementer Heimbewohnerinnen und Heimbewohner

ZusammenfassungHintergrund Angehörige und Pflegende von dementen Menschen sind bezüglich der Wirkung ihrer Bemühungen oft verunsichert. In dieser Studie wird untersucht, ob bzw. inwiefern soziale Unterstützung in Form regelmäßiger Besuche das Wohlbefinden betagter dementer Menschen verbessert. Durchführung Zur Überprüfung dieser Fragestellung wurde eine Interventionsstudie mit leicht bis schwer dementen Heimbewohnern1 (MMS 5–25) durchgeführt. Durch Aufrufe an der Seniorenuniversität Zürich und Inserate wurden freiwillige Helfer rekrutiert, die bereit waren, die Heimbewohner regelmäßig zu besuchen. Die Besucher wurden im Umgang mit dementen Menschen geschult und regelmäßig betreut. Die Versuchsteilnehmer wurden zufällig einer von zwei Untersuchungsgruppen zugewiesen. Die erste Gruppe bekam über zehn Wochen regelmäßig Besuch, während die zweite Gruppe als Kontrollgruppe diente. Zur Erinnerung und um den Effekt der Vorhersagbarkeit zu verstärken, erhielten die Teilnehmer der Experimentalgruppe eine Terminkarte, die mit dem Foto des freiwilligen Helfers und dem nächsten Besuchstermin versehen war. Befunde Die Besuche hatten einen signifikant positiven Einfluss auf das Wohlbefinden der Heimbewohner (F(1,39)=11,16, p <0,002). Es konnten Verbesserungen im psychischen, physischen und sozialen Wohlbefinden der Teilnehmer festgestellt werden. Zudem milderten die Besuche das durch körperliche Krankheiten entstandene Leiden und schienen die Auswirkungen des geistigen Abbaus auf die Leistungsfähigkeit der Patienten abzuschwächen. Eindrücklich war zudem die Erkenntnis, dass die dementen Heimbewohner die Besuche wirklich registrierten und sich in irgendeiner Form daran zu erinnern schienen. Die Untersuchung zeigte, dass demente Menschen in emotionalen Belangen sehr empfindsam sind und über ihre Empfindungen auch noch bis zu einem relativ schweren Demenzstadium erstaunlich gut und differenziert Auskunft geben können. Auch die freiwilligen Helfer profitierten von den Besuchen, was unter anderem darin zum Ausdruck kam, dass ihr Wohlbefinden nach den Besuchen jeweils deutlich anstieg.SummaryBackground Relatives and caregivers of patients with dementia are often insecure about the impact of their efforts. This study examines whether and to what extent social support in the form of regular visits is increasing the well-being of demented aged. Procedure A field experiment with slightly to seriously demented institutionalized aged persons (MMS 5–25) was carried out to assess the effect of increased social support upon their well-being. Voluntary helpers, who were willing to visit their patients on a regular basis, were recruited by appeals at the senior university and by advertisements. The volunteers were trained to deal with the demented and were looked after regularly. The test subjects were randomly assigned to one of two test groups. The first group was visited regularly for ten weeks, whereas the second group served as a control group. The participants of the experimental group received a visiting card with a photo of the volunteer and the next appointment date to remember their visitors and to increase the effect of predictability. Results The effect of visits on the well-being of the institutionalized aged persons was significantly positive (F(1,39)=11.16, p <0.002). The psychological, physiological and social well-being of the participants was improved. Additionally, visits moderated the pain resulting from physical illness and seemed to decrease the effects of mental decline on their performance. Furthermore, it was most impressive to find that the demented aged really took notice of the visits and seemed to remember them in one way or an other. The study pointed out that demented aged persons are still very sensitive in an emotional respect and that they are still able to give astonishing good and differentiated information about their feelings even in an advanced state of dementia. Even the volunteers gained from their visits, which was shown by their higher well-being after their visits.

Auswirkungen erhöhter sozialer Unterstützung auf das Wohlbefinden kognitiv beeinträchtigter älterer Menschen

Social relationships are an important factor for maintaining life satisfaction in elderly people. Little is known, however, about the influence of increased social support towards the well-being of cognitively impaired people. This is why two comparative studies in Switzerland and Austria, with 84 cognitively impaired individuals (aged between 65 and 98) with in-patient treatment, used a control group design to examine whether increased social support would have a positive effect on the well-being of these individuals. To this end, interventions in the form of emotional social support through volunteer visitors for dementia patients were carried out. In both studies, a positive association between increased social support by volunteer assistants and well-being emerged. The investigations show that social support and attention are generally registered and perceived as creating a pleasantly soothing feeling in cognitively impaired people.

Nursing interventions in cases of agitation and dementia

This study had two objectives: firstly, to assess and compare the frequency and circumstances of agitation and, secondly, to generate decision-making aids for the treatment of agitation patients by applying a nursing intervention in cases of dementia and agitation. For that purpose, 1002 measurements of open nursing interventions in cases of agitation were obtained over a period of 11 weeks in two nursing homes in the city of Zurich and in the nursing home Sonnweid. Before, during and after two intervention periods of four weeks each, data were collected for 60 persons suffering from severe dementia. The results show that two-thirds of the residents were never agitated, one-quarter was moderately agitated and only very few suffered from medium-to-severe agitation. In almost half the cases, agitation occurred while the person was alone (46%), followed by cases of agitation as a constant state (26%). There was rarely any agitation while the residents were engaged in activities. After analysing 433 documented cases, it turned out that the most successful care interventions were avoiding noise, accompanying the person to the toilet, communication/validation, walking about/movement and administering beverages. Being based on newly translated observational methods and a unique longitudinal study design with combined intervention, this study provides important insights into how agitation in dementia can be influenced within the care context, as well as a practical evaluation of interventions specific to different institutions.

[Effect of increased social support on the well-being of cognitively impaired elderly people].

Social relationships are an important factor for maintaining life satisfaction in elderly people. Little is known, however, about the influence of increased social support towards the well-being of cognitively impaired people. This is why two comparative studies in Switzerland and Austria, with 84 cognitively impaired individuals (aged between 65 and 98) with in-patient treatment, used a control group design to examine whether increased social support would have a positive effect on the well-being of these individuals. To this end, interventions in the form of emotional social support through volunteer visitors for dementia patients were carried out. In both studies, a positive association between increased social support by volunteer assistants and well-being emerged. The investigations show that social support and attention are generally registered and perceived as creating a pleasantly soothing feeling in cognitively impaired people.

Auswirkungen erhöhter sozialer Unterstützung auf das Wohlbefinden kognitiv beeinträchtigter älterer Menschen@@@Effect of increased social support on the well-being of cognitively impaired elderly people

Social relationships are an important factor for maintaining life satisfaction in elderly people. Little is known, however, about the influence of increased social support towards the well-being of cognitively impaired people. This is why two comparative studies in Switzerland and Austria, with 84 cognitively impaired individuals (aged between 65 and 98) with in-patient treatment, used a control group design to examine whether increased social support would have a positive effect on the well-being of these individuals. To this end, interventions in the form of emotional social support through volunteer visitors for dementia patients were carried out. In both studies, a positive association between increased social support by volunteer assistants and well-being emerged. The investigations show that social support and attention are generally registered and perceived as creating a pleasantly soothing feeling in cognitively impaired people.

Welche Informationen benötigen Erfasserinnen für den Einsatz der Observed Emotion Rating Scale

As there have so far not been any empirical results in German-speaking Europe with regard to training people in the use of the Observed Emotion Rating Scale (OERS) instrument, the investigation needs to establish what information is required for those involved in OERS data entry. The explorative analysis was carried out with 12 probands using a methodological approach based on the Mayring (2003) qualitative content analysis procedure. Based on the results, it became clear that the use of OERS needs to be well prepared in advance, as the estimation of emotions with sufferers of dementia requires background knowledge of the illness, as well as the adjustment of those under observation to the surroundings being required. Furthermore, it became apparent that the use of OERS is suited to reflecting the surroundings of those suffering from dementia, as the rarity of emotions being expressed can itself be a sign of a maladjusted environment.

Lebenslanges Lernen mit neuen Zielgruppen - Zusammenfassung der Referate zum Themenschwerpunkt „Alter“

Obwohl es heute langst wissenschaftlich erwiesen ist, dass Pravention in Form von Vermittlung von Kompetenzmodulen auch bei Hochbetagten effektiv und effizient ist, fand bislang eine systematische Anwendung kaum statt. Langzeituntersuchungen bei 75- bis 93-jahrigen Personen zeigten nach einem halben Jahr Gedachtnis- und Bewegungstraining wahrend 5 Jahren eine anhaltende Steigerung der Selbstandigkeit und eine Reduktion psychisch-geistiger Beschwerden.