Wellbeing and activity in dementia: a comparison of group reminiscence therapy, structured goal-directed group activity and unstructured time

A within-subjects design was utilized to compare levels of wellbeing demonstrated by 25 individuals with mild to moderate dementia during three types of activity. The first was simple group reminiscence therapy (RT), using objects and photographs; the second was group activities (GA), involving simple goal directed crafts or games; and the third was unstructured time (UT), during which participants were left to their own devices with little staff interaction. These activities were all part of the usual programme of activities within three day hospitals where the study took place. Dementia Care Mapping was used to measure relative levels of wellbeing or illbeing during these three conditions. The results indicated that individuals experienced a greater level of relative wellbeing during RT than GA. The level of wellbeing in both RT and GA was significantly higher than in UT.