Feasibility and Pilot Testing of a Mindfulness Intervention for Frail Older Adults and Individuals With Dementia.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to assess the feasibility of mindfulness for older adults in long-term residential settings and compare its outcomes with cognitive activity, including individuals with moderate to severe dementia.
Results Summary
The study found statistically significant short-term improvements in agitation, discomfort, anger, and anxiety, but no long-term changes. Nighttime sleep did not improve, though daytime sleep decreased.
Population
Older adults in long-term residential settings, including individuals with a range of cognitive abilities (moderate to severe dementia).
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mindfulness interventions | neutral | - | healthy adults and individuals experiencing a stressful medical or mental health diagnosis | - | have been beneficial | #1 |
mindfulness | neutral | - | individuals with cognitive impairment | - | feasible for continued practice | #2 |
mindfulness | decrease | agitation | individuals with a range of cognitive abilities | - | Statistically significant short-term changes | #3 |
mindfulness | decrease | discomfort | individuals with a range of cognitive abilities | - | Statistically significant short-term changes | #4 |
mindfulness | decrease | anger | individuals with a range of cognitive abilities | - | Statistically significant short-term changes | #5 |
mindfulness | decrease | anxiety | individuals with a range of cognitive abilities | - | Statistically significant short-term changes | #6 |
mindfulness | no change | Nighttime sleep | participants | - | did not improve | #7 |
mindfulness | decrease | sleep during the day | participants | - | slept less | #8 |
mindfulness | no change | outcomes | - | - | Long-term changes were not found | #9 |
Mindfulness | decrease | emotional reactivity | older adults in long-term care | - | may be useful in decreasing | #10 |
Mindfulness | increase | well-being | older adults in long-term care | - | may be useful in improving | #11 |
Mindfulness | decrease | emotional reactivity | - | - | acts to decrease | #12 |
UNLABELLED: Mindfulness interventions have been beneficial for healthy adults and individuals experiencing a stressful medical or mental health diagnosis. The purposes of the current study were to: (a) determine feasibility of mindfulness for older adults in long-term residential settings, and (b) examine differences in outcomes between a mindfulness and cognitive activity. The current study is the first mindfulness study to include individuals in moderate and severe stages of dementia, and included 36 individuals with a range of cognitive abilities. A crossover design was used, and the intervention was feasible for continued practice by individuals with cognitive impairment. Statistically significant short-term changes in agitation, discomfort, anger, and anxiety were found. Nighttime sleep did not improve, but participants slept less during the day. Long-term changes in outcomes were not found. Mindfulness may be useful in decreasing emotional reactivity and improving well-being of older adults in long-term care. TARGETS: Individuals with multiple chronic conditions, including cognitive impairment. INTERVENTION DESCRIPTION: The Present in the Now (PIN) intervention is a mindfulness intervention with three components: attentional skill exercises, body awareness activities, and compassion meditation. MECHANISMS OF ACTION: Mindfulness acts to decrease emotional reactivity through cognitive and affective mechanisms of action and neural activation of the cingulate cortex, amygdala, and hippocampus. OUTCOMES: Agitation, affect, stress, sleep, discomfort, and communication of need. [Res Gerontol Nurs. 2018; 11(3):137-150.].