Using a Rocking Chair in the Care of People with Dementia: A Single-Case Research Study

Abstract

The people with dementia experience a progressive loss of cognition, while more than 90% of them develop behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). BPSD may result in physical injuries and psychological distress among people with dementia and their family/caregivers. First-line care strategies in dementia care should not unthinkingly involve pharmacological interventions to avert or reduce the behavior, and should rather consider the person and their unique requirements. Therefore, a combination of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions is strongly recommended. Since the care staff in dementia care is required to be informed regarding the non-pharmacological approaches to address BPSD, the present study was aimed to evaluate the use of a rocking chair in the context of BPSD, quality of life, and medication usage among people with dementia at individual level. The secondary aim of the present study was to describe care staff's experiences related to the feasibility and usability of rocking chair in providing care for PwD in a nursing home setting. The present research is a single-case study, performed using a mixed-methods approach, with six people having dementia and 11 care staff members in a nursing home setting. The people with dementia used the Wellness Nordic Relax®Chair for a mean number of five times/week, for eight weeks in total. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected prior to, during, and post-intervention (A-B-A design). The quantitative and qualitative data were consistent with each other. The mean, median, and relative change

Effect of Nordic Sensi® Chair on Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia in Nursing Homes Residents: A Randomized Controlled Trial1

“…The results of a repeated-measures study revealed that the use of a glider significantly improved emotions and relaxation in people with severe dementia admitted to nursing homes [15]. In the same line, findings from a study using a rocking chair showed a decrease in BPSD and an increase in quality of life in PWD in a nursing home [16]. In a multicenter survey of long-term care facilities staff reported the use of a rocking chair improved quality of care and contributed to a calmer environment for PwD [17].…”

“…Based on the methodology used in previous studies, we consider that a frequency of three times per week would be adequate to study the effect of the NSC on BPSD [14][15][16][17]. A research team from the Instituto Andaluz de Neurociencia (four neuropsychologists and one psychiatrist) filled the outcomes measures of the study results.…”

“…MusiCure ® is used in a wide variety of different types of treatment and research projects such as cardiac patients, surgery and recovery or psychiatric patients suffering from anxiety, depression, delirium, or sleep problems [26]. Recently MusiCure ® has also been used for the treatment of PwD [16].…”

Does rocking motion calm delirious patients in ICU? A multicentre randomised clinical trial protocol (RockingICU)

“…There are several programmes for motion and music. The chairs are developed for relaxation and reverse the negative behaviour in patients with neuropsychiatric symptoms, during dementia disease 12 …”

“…The chairs are developed for relaxation and reverse the negative behaviour in patients with neuropsychiatric symptoms, during dementia disease. 12 Patients allocated to the intervention group will receive a daily minimum of 20 min of rocking therapy. The music will be turned on, unless the patient declines music.…”