Complementary therapies for the elderly living with dementia
Nabatanzi, Nodrine (2024)
2024
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025103126837
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025103126837
Tiivistelmä
Objective: This study is aimed at raising awareness about five complementary therapies such that nurses and other healthcare professionals can be able to support the elderly who are living with dementia whilst applying these therapies.
Methodology: A systematic review approach has been conducted, analysing content from thirteen articles which were selected by a process of inclusion and exclusion. The articles were collected from the EBSCOhost database in which Academic Search Elite and CINAHL were selected. Focus was mainly based on five complementary therapies which are music therapy, doll therapy, animal therapy, aroma and massage therapy, art therapy and reminiscence.
Results: Complementary therapies improved behavioural and psychological symptoms if applied correctly in the elderly living with dementia. This indirectly resulted into other positive effects like reducing nurse’s burden, improving communication, reminiscence among others, all of which improved the well-being of the elderly living with dementia. The study also revealed that for effective results to be recognised, the administrators of the therapies have to apply them appropriately.
Conclusion: Complementary therapies yielded more positive results when used in conjunction with each other. In addition to this, complementary therapies could only be used as integrative forms of treatment and not a substitute to pharmaceutical treatment.
Methodology: A systematic review approach has been conducted, analysing content from thirteen articles which were selected by a process of inclusion and exclusion. The articles were collected from the EBSCOhost database in which Academic Search Elite and CINAHL were selected. Focus was mainly based on five complementary therapies which are music therapy, doll therapy, animal therapy, aroma and massage therapy, art therapy and reminiscence.
Results: Complementary therapies improved behavioural and psychological symptoms if applied correctly in the elderly living with dementia. This indirectly resulted into other positive effects like reducing nurse’s burden, improving communication, reminiscence among others, all of which improved the well-being of the elderly living with dementia. The study also revealed that for effective results to be recognised, the administrators of the therapies have to apply them appropriately.
Conclusion: Complementary therapies yielded more positive results when used in conjunction with each other. In addition to this, complementary therapies could only be used as integrative forms of treatment and not a substitute to pharmaceutical treatment.