A study of reminiscence activities program on dementia behavioral problems care for long-term care older adults in Taiwan

The concept of person-centered care has been incorporated through various healthcare interventions to enhance mental health-related outcomes and ensure the quality of care delivered to individuals living with dementia. Reminiscence therapy (RT) is a popular therapeutic intervention for individuals with dementia. The purpose of this study is to evaluate intervention effects of group RT on symptoms of agitation in individuals with dementia. We employed a quasi-experimental repeated measures study design. The participants included 80 older adults with dementia, residing in two long-term care facilities in Taiwan. The participants received a 120-minute group RT session once per week for 10 weeks. Outcomes were measured 1 week pre- and post-intervention. It was observed that participation in group RT significantly improved agitated behavior of individuals with dementia across time periods. The designed RT program showed promising effects regarding improving the agitated behavior of older adults with dementia living in long-term care homes. Incorporating RT activities into clinical social work practice may help long-term care to evolve in a more diverse and innovative direction.