Social interaction improves quality of life in dementia patients

When caring for dementia patients, social interaction should be improved

Dementia is widespread. For this reason, there is also a growing need for improved care or care for people with dementia. Researchers have now found that increasing social interaction combined with personalized care improves the quality of life for those affected.

Researchers at the University of Exeter, King's College London and the Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust found that nursing homes care for elderly people with dementia can be significantly improved by increasing social interaction with those affected. The physicians published the results of their study in the English-language journal "PLOS Medicine".

The right care is very important for people with dementia. Especially the social interaction with the patients has a big influence on the quality of life. (Image: Robert Kneschke / fotolia.com)

Already one hour of social interaction per week is enough

The large-scale study has shown that increasing social interaction coupled with personalized care improves quality of life and saves money. If elderly people with dementia live in a nursing home, just one hour of social interaction per week would be enough to improve the quality of life of those affected. Earlier research had already shown that residents in many nursing homes only have about two minutes of social interaction per day.

The program reduces agitation and aggression

The authors provided in their study that certain key persons in nursing homes were trained to provide a person-centered approach to care. This happened, for example, by talking to the residents about their interests. Already one hour of social interaction per week improved quality of life and reduced agitation and aggression in people with dementia.

The quality of care in nursing homes varies greatly

Many nursing homes do a great job, but standards are still very different, says study author Professor Clive Ballard of the University of Exeter Medical School. Since it has previously been established that the average interaction for people with dementia is only two minutes per day, the resulting effects on quality of life and agitation are hardly surprising, the expert adds.

Physicians need to develop further approaches to improving care

This approach to dealing with people with dementia improves care and saves additional costs. More approaches need to be developed to address the most vulnerable people in society, the medical profession explains. Out of about 170 nursing manuals available on the market, only four are based on the measures that really work, the researchers add. This just is not enough and needs to be improved.

Researchers examined more than 800 dementia patients in their study

The study involved more than 800 people with dementia in 69 nursing homes in South London, North London and Buckinghamshire. Two nursing staff were trained in each home in four full-day sessions, for example, to talk with residents about their interests and decisions about their own care. The next major challenge is to extend the program to the 28,000 nursing homes in the UK. Thus, the quality of life of about 300,000 people with dementia in these facilities can be improved, the experts emphasize.

Social interaction has a significant impact on well-being

A so-called person-centered approach is about getting to know each inhabitant as an individual, including his interests and preferences. These can then be reflected in all aspects of care, explain the doctors. This treatment approach could significantly reduce agitation and save healthcare costs. Nationwide training could benefit many people in the future. This study shows that providing training for this type of individual care and social interaction can have a significant impact on the well-being of people with dementia in nursing homes, the experts concluded. (As)