Long-Term Care Facilities Should Incorporate Effective Interventions that Improve Cognitive Functions and Depressive Symptoms of Dementia Patients

Impairments in cognitive functioning and depressive symptoms are prevalent among older adults with dementia. Older adults with dementia commonly experience a variety of cognitive and behavioral problems, which may in turn diminish physical activities and mental well-being, reduce social or occupational functions, and decrease health-related quality of life. Furthermore, research has shown that depressive symptoms are strongly related to aggravated cognitive functions in older adults with dementia. Thus, long-term care facilities who provide care to the elderly with dementia should strive to implement effective strategies to improve their cognitive functions and depressive symptoms.

Recent studies have shown that reminiscence therapy, inducing a vocal or silent recall of past activities, events, and experiences in the life of a person by using tangible prompts, is an effective intervention that can improve cognitive functions and depressive symptoms of older adults with dementia. Nursing homes and assisted living facilities that care for patients with dementia should incorporate effective interventions like reminiscence therapy to improve cognitive functions and depressive symptoms.