Shannon E. Jarrott

Respite for Dementia Caregivers: The Effects of Adult Day Service Use on Caregiving Hours and Care Demands

The objective of this study was to determine whether adult day service use was related to decreases in primary caregiving hours (i.e., the time caregivers spent on activities of daily living/instrumental activities of daily living and behavior problems for care recipients) and care recipient function for these domains. Three-month longitudinal data from the Adult Day Care Collaborative Study (N = 400) were used. Adult day service users reported greater decreases in hours spent on behavior problems when compared to nonusers, even after controlling for baseline differences between the two groups. In addition, adult day service users reported decreased frequency of behavior problems in their relatives who attended adult day programs. The findings suggest that adult day services, if used over time, are effective in restructuring caregiving time and may offer potential benefits not only to family caregivers but to community-residing older adults who have dementia as well.

Harvesting Health Effects of Three Types of Horticultural Therapy Activities for Persons with Dementia

Providing meaningful activities for persons with dementia in institutional care settings challenges many activity staff. Horticultural therapy (HT), is one approach to addressing this challenge. HT involves the use of plant materials to achieve measurable treatment goals with special populations. The current exploratory study investigated differential responses of persons with dementia to three types of HT activities: cooking, crafts, and planting. We conducted HT activities three times per week at an adult day service (ADS) program over a nine-week period. Observational data for each participant were collected during HT and more traditional ADS activities at five-minute intervals using a modified Dementia Care Mapping (DCM) technique. Predominant behavior and affect of each timeframe were recorded for participants. High levels of positive affect and engagement were observed during all of the categories of HT activities, but no significant differences were found between the three categories of HT activities. While levels of engagement in the presented HT and traditional activities were similar, the percentage of time spent doing nothing was lower during HT than traditional activities. Affect was more positive during HT than traditional activities. The current study lends support to the value of HT activities for participants with dementia regardless of the HT modality employed.

Grandchildren's Perceptions of Caring for Grandparents

Despite the fact that caregiving related issues are well researched in the field of family gerontology, the developmental experiences of grandchildren caregivers and the meanings of their caregiving experiences have not been explored. Influenced by the lifespan perspective and a constructionism lens, interviews were conducted with 17 grandchildren (ages 21 to 29 years old) who were currently providing care for a grandparent. Grandchildren cargivers reported that filial obligation and preparing for the future were how they made sense of their role. Grandchildren experienced benefits and costs from their caregiving role and developed coping mechanisms that allowed them to be successful caregivers. Professionals should include grandchildren in established caregiver support programs to recognize the generational needs of grandchildren caregivers in their 20s.

Shared Site Intergenerational Programs: A Case Study

Shared site intergenerational programs (SSIP) unite disparate age groups in quasi-kin relationships and meet the care needs of multiple generations of families. SSIPs can effectively support development through intergenerational relationships. However, many programs prove unsustainable. The authors conducted a case study of an established SSIP serving frail older adults and preschool-aged children using surveys and interviews from parents, family caregivers, and older adult clients with dementia. Benefits included appreciation for diversity, formation of close intergenerational relationships, and enhanced client self-esteem. Challenges related to developmental differences and need for greater communication with families. SSIPs can benefit individuals, families, and human services organizations.

Comparing Responses to Horticultural-Based and Traditional Activities in Dementia Care Programs

Engaging persons with dementia in meaningful activities supports well-being; however, care staff are challenged to implement age- and ability-appropriate activities in a group setting. We compared a randomly assigned treatment group, who received horticultural therapy-based (HT-based) programming to a comparison group, who engaged in traditional activities (TA) programming, on engagement and affect. Horticultural therapy-based programming was implemented twice weekly at 4 treatment sites for 6 weeks, while regular TA were observed at comparison sites. Results revealed no differences between groups on affective domains. Levels of adaptive behavior differed between the groups, with the treatment group demonstrating higher levels of active, passive, and other engagement and the comparison group demonstrating higher levels of self-engagement. Our results highlight the value of HT-based programs and the importance of simultaneously capturing participants’ affective and behavioral responses. Theoretical and practical considerations about the facilitation of and context in which the programming occurs are discussed.

An Intergenerational Summer Program Involving Persons with Dementia and Preschool Children

ABSTRACT We implemented an intergenerational (IG) summer program at a colocated site for 2 consecutive summers to maximize continuity and enhance sustainability. We incorporated multiple methods to represent the views of key program stakeholders, including staff and administrators, parents who attended the program, and facilitators’ reports of the experiences of child and adult participants. We generated a list of themes and subthemes from each source and triangulated the data points. Despite the resources invested and the challenges faced, the program was well received and viewed as beneficial. These findings offer insight into the likelihood of sustainability for IG summer programming.

Where Have We Been and Where are We Going? Content Analysis of Evaluation Research of Intergenerational Programs

Intergenerational programs target diverse youth, elder and community needs with creative practices and considerable success. With the earliest nonfamilial intergenerational interventions identified in the 1960s (i.e., Foster Grandparents in 1965), intergenerational program research is relatively new compared to parallel lines of inquiry in child, youth or adult development. Recently, scholars have encouraged practitioners and researchers alike to increase their use of theory- and evidence- based practices and state of the art research techniques. The present content analysis reflects four decades of intergenerational research published in English language journals to determine if characteristics of intervention studies echo these recommendations. Program and evaluation characteristics were coded along with research results. I describe trends in participant groups, study subjects, research designs, sources of data, methods of analysis and outcomes measured. Implications for practice and research for intergenerational scholars are addressed in the context of this developing area of intervention research.

Service-learners at dementia care programs:an intervention for improving contact, comfort, and attitudes.

Abstract Service-Learning can be a rewarding and challenging experience for students. One of the rewards for students can be the connection between their course work and real life experience. However, students interacting with populations with which they have limited prior experience face unique challenges. We developed a training program designed to facilitate comfort with older adults who have dementia for service-learners in a gerontology course who were serving at an Adult Day Services (ADS) program. Students in the course completed pre-and post-surveys assessing level of contact with older adults and attitudes on aging. Service-learners serving at the ADS comprised the treatment group (n = 5) while those serving at other S-L sites made up the control group (n = 11). Independent and paired sample t-tests indicated that the training program contributed to intra-individual and group differences in comfort working with older adults and with adults who are cognitively impaired. Differences in attitudes about older adults were also identified. Implications for adult development courses involving S-L at dementia care programs are discussed.

Montessori programming for persons with dementia in the group setting An analysis of engagement and affect

Implementing meaningful activities for persons with dementia reduces boredom, agitation, and negative affect. Previous research demonstrated that Montessori activities, modified for persons with dementia, facilitate positive engagement and affect. We conducted activities in small parallel group settings to support social interactions and reflect typical staff-to-client ratios in institutional activity settings. The amount and type of engagement and affect were compared during Montessori-based activities and regularly scheduled activities of 10 older adults with dementia at an adult day program. Participants exhibited more constructive engagement and less non-engagement during Montessori-activities compared to regular activities. Affect did not differ between the activity conditions. We conclude with a discussion of research and practice methodology modifications.

Caregiver satisfation with Adult Day Service Programs

Caregivers typically report high levels of satisfaction with adult day service (ADS) programs. However, studies of satisfaction are often limited by methodological problems. For example, items may only assess global satisfaction rather than caregivers’ feelings about specific aspects of ADS use. Additionally, caregivers’ responses may reflect their expectations or attitudes about ADS rather than satisfaction with the program. This study uses multiple indicators of a programs success to evaluate caregiver satisfaction with ADS after three and 12 months of program attendance. Reported are rates of satisfaction with various features of ADS services, perceived benefits and drawbacks associated with ADS use, and how those evaluations change over time. We also examine factors associated with caregivers’ evaluation of ADS.