Memory aids as an augmentative and alternative communication strategy for nursing home residents with dementia

Michelle S. Bourgeois; Katinka Dijkstra; Louis Burgio; Rebecca Allen-Burge

doi:10.1080/aac.17.3.196.210

Memory aids as an augmentative and alternative communication strategy for nursing home residents with dementia

Michelle S. Bourgeois^*
, Katinka Dijkstra
, Louis Burgio
, Rebecca Allen-Burge

^*Corresponding author for this work

Florida State University
University of Alabama

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

105 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The effect of memory aids on conversations between nursing aides and residents with dementia during 5-minute conversations was examined. Nursing home units in seven nursing homes were randomly assigned to treatment and control conditions. Residents in the treatment condition were given 12-page memory books consisting of autobiographical, dally schedule, and problem resolution information. Their assigned nursing aides were trained to use the memory books during care interactions and throughout the day. The duration and quality of verbal interactions between dyads of a resident and their nursing aide during 5-minute conversations were measured pre- and post-treatment using computer-assisted observational techniques and verbatim transcriptions of videotaped conversations (N = 66; 33 treatment dyads and 33 control dyads). The results reveaied Improvements on a variety of quantitative conversational measures (e.g., duration of speaking time, frequency of utterances) between treatment and control conditions as a function of memory book use. Similarly, the quality of conversations, as measured by the frequency of discourse characteristics (e.g., facilitative behaviors), improved as a function of memory book use for treatment dyads. Nursing aides' judgment of residents' depressive symptoms improved with memory aid use, suggesting changes in resident quality of life as a result of an AAC technique that enhanced information sharing and social closeness.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	196-210
Number of pages	15
Journal	AAC: Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Volume	17
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/aac.17.3.196.210
Publication status	Published - Sept 2001

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This research was supported by funding from the National Institute on Aging (R01AG13008) to The Florida State University. The authors thank Geoff Petrie, Rachael Holsman, Yasmin Smith, Tricia Fain, Martin Schiavenato, and Tynia Williams for their assistance with data collection and transcription. Special thanks are extended to the staff and residents of all nursing homes involved for their cooperation and support. Address reprint requests to: Michelle Bourgeois, Department of Communication Disorders, The Florida State University, 302 Regional Rehabilitation Bldg., Tallahassee, FL 32306-1200, USA.

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10.1080/aac.17.3.196.210

Cite this

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title = "Memory aids as an augmentative and alternative communication strategy for nursing home residents with dementia",

abstract = "The effect of memory aids on conversations between nursing aides and residents with dementia during 5-minute conversations was examined. Nursing home units in seven nursing homes were randomly assigned to treatment and control conditions. Residents in the treatment condition were given 12-page memory books consisting of autobiographical, dally schedule, and problem resolution information. Their assigned nursing aides were trained to use the memory books during care interactions and throughout the day. The duration and quality of verbal interactions between dyads of a resident and their nursing aide during 5-minute conversations were measured pre- and post-treatment using computer-assisted observational techniques and verbatim transcriptions of videotaped conversations (N = 66; 33 treatment dyads and 33 control dyads). The results reveaied Improvements on a variety of quantitative conversational measures (e.g., duration of speaking time, frequency of utterances) between treatment and control conditions as a function of memory book use. Similarly, the quality of conversations, as measured by the frequency of discourse characteristics (e.g., facilitative behaviors), improved as a function of memory book use for treatment dyads. Nursing aides' judgment of residents' depressive symptoms improved with memory aid use, suggesting changes in resident quality of life as a result of an AAC technique that enhanced information sharing and social closeness.",

author = "Bourgeois, \{Michelle S.\} and Katinka Dijkstra and Louis Burgio and Rebecca Allen-Burge",

note = "Funding Information: This research was supported by funding from the National Institute on Aging (R01AG13008) to The Florida State University. The authors thank Geoff Petrie, Rachael Holsman, Yasmin Smith, Tricia Fain, Martin Schiavenato, and Tynia Williams for their assistance with data collection and transcription. Special thanks are extended to the staff and residents of all nursing homes involved for their cooperation and support. Address reprint requests to: Michelle Bourgeois, Department of Communication Disorders, The Florida State University, 302 Regional Rehabilitation Bldg., Tallahassee, FL 32306-1200, USA.",

year = "2001",

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N1 - Funding Information: This research was supported by funding from the National Institute on Aging (R01AG13008) to The Florida State University. The authors thank Geoff Petrie, Rachael Holsman, Yasmin Smith, Tricia Fain, Martin Schiavenato, and Tynia Williams for their assistance with data collection and transcription. Special thanks are extended to the staff and residents of all nursing homes involved for their cooperation and support. Address reprint requests to: Michelle Bourgeois, Department of Communication Disorders, The Florida State University, 302 Regional Rehabilitation Bldg., Tallahassee, FL 32306-1200, USA.

PY - 2001/9

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N2 - The effect of memory aids on conversations between nursing aides and residents with dementia during 5-minute conversations was examined. Nursing home units in seven nursing homes were randomly assigned to treatment and control conditions. Residents in the treatment condition were given 12-page memory books consisting of autobiographical, dally schedule, and problem resolution information. Their assigned nursing aides were trained to use the memory books during care interactions and throughout the day. The duration and quality of verbal interactions between dyads of a resident and their nursing aide during 5-minute conversations were measured pre- and post-treatment using computer-assisted observational techniques and verbatim transcriptions of videotaped conversations (N = 66; 33 treatment dyads and 33 control dyads). The results reveaied Improvements on a variety of quantitative conversational measures (e.g., duration of speaking time, frequency of utterances) between treatment and control conditions as a function of memory book use. Similarly, the quality of conversations, as measured by the frequency of discourse characteristics (e.g., facilitative behaviors), improved as a function of memory book use for treatment dyads. Nursing aides' judgment of residents' depressive symptoms improved with memory aid use, suggesting changes in resident quality of life as a result of an AAC technique that enhanced information sharing and social closeness.

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Memory aids as an augmentative and alternative communication strategy for nursing home residents with dementia

Abstract

Bibliographical note

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