Signpost Book Reviews Vol 11.1 June 2006

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Activities and Reminiscence

Video and Workbook 20 mins.

Regis Care Training Videos, Barnham, West Sussex 2005

˜Confusion is not a barrier to participation", is one of the key messages conveyed in this twenty minute video aimed at care workers working with confused clients. The emphasis is on developing stimulating and meaningful activities for clients with dementia that can range from helping with routine, everyday tasks to specific activities either individually or in a group. The video acknowledges the expertise of the care worker in recognising the individuality of the client and adapting tasks accordingly according to the clients needs and abilities. The overall aim of the video is to increase the care worker’s awareness and skills, thus improving quality of life for the client.

The video uses a common-sense approach. There is nothing we, as viewers, do not already know. That is not to say that it states the obvious, but the care worker’s role is recognised as being challenging and stressful and with the introduction of small daily changes, the benefits can be appreciated by both client and care worker. The client can be involved in routine tasks normally carried out solely by the care worker, such as making the bed or a cup of tea.

The advantage for the client is that they feel useful and valued, and this raises confidence and self-esteem, especially if they receive praise for their achievements.

For the care worker based in a care home, there are many suggestions for activities that may make a client’s day more interesting and stimulating. Many of these activities may be done in the comfort of an armchair but still encourage participation. The ideas presented include music, exercise and arts and crafts. As reminiscence is found to be particularly effective with confused clients compiling a collage or scrapbook can help them retain their identity, and this can help the care worker to understand the client’s needs, preferences, values and beliefs and adapt the care given accordingly.

Although the video is fairly brief, the activities demonstrated should give the care worker ample ideas to inform their practice and help them to recognise each client’s individuality. The care worker based in a busy or understaffed environment may have limited time to spend on the individual and group activities suggested in the video, but introducing even small changes may be enough to have a positive effect on both the client and care worker’s day.

Joanna Hendry BA (Hons), Dip. CBT, Counsellor and Education Officer, Crossroads in the Vale (EMI) Ltd., Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan.

The New Culture Of Therapeutic Activity With Older People
Edited Tessa Perrin
Publisher: Speechmark 2004
256 pages
ISBN 0-86388-442-3
Price: £25.95

Perrin writes with an understandable authority about her subject, and her fifteen co-contributors (four of whom share with her Occupational Therapy experience) all address the issues and concerns admirably.

Sharing clear links with the Bradford team, the editor understandably refers, on page one, to Kitwood being "credited with having instigated the first real challenge to the dominant medical model of dementia and dementia care". The chapter then compares and contrasts thirteen aspects of old and new cultures. The importance of this introduction cannot be overemphasised. Its clarity and succinctness are particularly impressive.

Throughout my nurse training, I was fortunate enough to work within genuinely multi-disciplinary teams, and have always held occupational therapists in the highest esteem. Before qualification conversations would often be generated about the clear overlaps and shared goals of the two previously distinct professions.That overlapping catalogue of values and beliefs makes this paperback a particularly rewarding read. As May puts it, "Cultural expectations and the importance of assessments need to be in the forefront of our minds when planning activities because 'off the shelf' activity programmes may or may not be effective; they do not automatically result in engagement and well-being for the people at whom they are targeted. Individual activity plans derived from individual assessments are far more likely to be effective, and group programmes should ideally be rationalisations of individual plans" (page 71).

The diversity of the project reports (from Harlow, Leicester and Westminster) also serve to highlight the progress being made within strategic practices. Possibly once viewed as mere entertainments, activity provisions are more readily acknowledged for having a clearly therapeutic value.

Documented here are personal experiences spanning upwards of thirty years - Millar completed her general nurse training in 1973 - and the one distinct message is that much progress has been made in recognising the beneficial outcomes of therapeutic activities. Long may that awareness continue to benefit individuals, and be recognised as an ongoing source of inspiration.

Stephen Weeks BA(Hons), RMN is a CPN based at Ossett CMHT, South West Yorkshire NHS Trust

The Simplicity of Dementia - A guide for family and carers

Author: Huub Buijssen
Published by: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
169 pages
ISBN: 1-84314-321-4
$19.95

Published this year (in English), The Simplicity of Dementia offers a good introduction to the world of Dementia. The first two chapters did not inspire me as some books do, however I am glad I persevered.

Aimed at families and carers, I found the content of this book to contain a vast amount of information, well written and understandable to those people who may be experiencing dementia for the first time. The chapters describe the experiences of dementia using a number of real-life examples which bring this person-centred book to life.

They are more likely to have anxiety, and their symptoms are more likely to be associated with factors

It explores issues of communication, mood and behaviour problems, management guidelines and has a chapter on the family and the problems they experience, including feelings of guilt.

The author bases this book not only on his professional outlook as a psychogerontologist and clinical psychologist, but also as a son, whose own father suffered with dementia. It brings the book to a more interesting level for me knowing the author has lived through the personal effects of dementia.

Although there are a large number of references in this book, many of them are Dutch writers, so further reading may be limited.

This book would be a good read for anyone wanting to learn about dementia, be it for personal or professional reasons.

Sarah Harris
Training Consultant, Training 4 Care Ltd
Lincolnshire