Van der Ploeg Eva S, Walker Helen, O'Connor Daniel W
School of Psychology and Psychiatry, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
School of Psychology and Psychiatry, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
Geriatr Nurs. 2014 Mar-Apr;35(2):142-6. doi: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2013.12.003. Epub 2013 Dec 20.
Nursing home residents' behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia are often exacerbated by a lack of social contact and meaningful activity. Volunteers might assist in addressing this deficiency but they are often discouraged by staff from engaging with residents with challenging behaviors. As a result, some of the neediest residents receive the least social and psychological support.
This project explored the implementation of personalized, one-to-one activities by nursing home volunteers to determine if volunteers were able and willing to complete a training program and undertake activities with residents with dementia and challenging behaviors.
19 nursing home volunteers in Melbourne, Australia, were trained to apply Montessori-type personalized activities with a selected resident whose dementia was complicated by a frequent, non-aggressive agitated behavior. The volunteers were asked to attend a workshop and pay six 30-min visits to the resident over a three week period. They completed knowledge and attitude rating scales before and after the intervention and were interviewed afterward regarding their experiences and perceptions.
16 volunteers completed the program and eight met or exceeded every study requirement. Most of them derived satisfaction from engaging residents' interest and were pleased to learn new skills. The scores on the dementia knowledge and attitude rating scale of those who completed the visits were higher at the study's outset than the scores of those who failed to make any visits.
It is certainly feasible to train volunteers to work with residents who might otherwise be isolated. It is important to demonstrate activities to volunteers at the outset and to provide them with careful, ongoing supervision and support. Notwithstanding some difficulties and challenges, volunteers represent a growing and hitherto untapped pool of support for people with dementia and complex needs.
养老院居民痴呆症的行为和心理症状往往因缺乏社交接触和有意义的活动而加剧。志愿者或许能帮助解决这一不足，但工作人员常常不鼓励他们与行为具有挑战性的居民互动。结果，一些最需要帮助的居民得到的社会和心理支持最少。
本项目探讨了养老院志愿者开展个性化一对一活动的实施情况，以确定志愿者是否有能力且愿意完成培训项目，并与患有痴呆症和行为具有挑战性的居民开展活动。
澳大利亚墨尔本的19名养老院志愿者接受培训，对一名患有痴呆症且频繁出现非攻击性激越行为的特定居民应用蒙台梭利式个性化活动。志愿者被要求参加一个工作坊，并在三周内对该居民进行六次30分钟的探访。他们在干预前后完成知识和态度评定量表，并在之后接受访谈，分享他们的经历和看法。
16名志愿者完成了该项目，其中8名达到或超过了所有研究要求。他们中的大多数人从激发居民兴趣中获得了满足感，并很高兴学到新技能。完成探访的志愿者在研究开始时的痴呆症知识和态度评定量表得分高于未进行任何探访的志愿者。
培训志愿者与那些可能会被孤立的居民合作当然是可行的。一开始就向志愿者展示活动内容，并为他们提供仔细、持续的监督和支持很重要。尽管存在一些困难和挑战，但志愿者对于患有痴呆症和有复杂需求的人来说，是一个不断壮大且尚未开发的支持群体。
