A UK research report has found a growing number of couples over 60 live in separate households, a trend particularly pronounced among those entering a new relationship at this stage of their lives. Improved mental health is a bonus.
Speakers of the calibre of David Knoff, the expedition leader stranded with his team in Antarctic during COVID, can regularly be heard at this global institution that places a premium on knowledge, not qualifications.
How to improve the well-being of people living with dementia
As the global population of older adults increases, the number of dementia cases is expected to grow, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) predicting there will be about 139 million older adults living with dementia by 2050.
Dementia, which is defined by the Alzheimer’s Association as an age-related clinical syndrome that results in progressive or persistent loss of memory and thinking abilities, has no cure and biomedical treatments remain limited.
That’s the bad news. The good news is that a chapter in the University of Oxford’s authoritative World Happiness Report, contributed by three researchers from Missouri’s Washington University in St Louis, Karysa Britton, Kyrsten Hill and Emily Willroth, who contend that it’s still possible to live well with dementia.
“Research shows that people living with dementia retain personal strengths and positive lived experiences. A recent study using a nationally representative sample of community-dwelling older adults found that life satisfaction did not differ for people living with and without dementia.”
Qualitative research from the perspective of people living with dementia highlights the importance of living with and adapting to change while striving for continuity. Additionally, people living with dementia report that the socio-cultural and physical environment can be both helpful and harmful for the quality of life and well-being.
Britton, Hill and Willroth write that qualitative studies highlight the importance of activity engagement to promote well-being in people living with dementia.
“An integrative review of 45 studies found that engagement in activities is related to a positive effect and well-being among nursing home residents both with and without cognitive impairment.
“This review examined a wide range of activities and interventions, such as animal-facilitated activities, cultural arts interventions, exercise programs, massage, life review/reminiscences and outdoor activities such as gardening, with results suggesting that activities are most effective when tailored to the individual.”
Research emphasises the importance of activities that are not only pleasant but also personally meaningful to the individual.
While acknowledging the need for additional research, the authors write that studies have shown that social support groups for people living with dementia may have benefits for self-esteem and well-being.
“Support groups can offer a sense of belonging, increase social interaction and provide strategies for coping, each of which is related to reductions in depressive symptoms and improvements in well-being among people living with dementia.
“Social and leisure activities therefore have the potential to increase autonomy, competence and relatedness among people living with dementia, leading to improvements in well-being.”
Among the various activities the authors discuss as assisting people with dementia, reminiscing is identified as having real benefits.
“Reminiscence interventions for people living with dementia have used several different structures and approaches.
“Broadly, it involves the discussion of past experiences with another person or group, often using prompts such as photographs, music or personal possessions. Some reminiscence interventions take a narrative approach based on sharing stories and memories.”
The authors also highlight the importance of environmental factors to support people with dementia with a focus on older adults preferring to remain in their own homes instead of moving into care.
“This is known as ageing in place, with research suggesting that people living with dementia can experience well-being benefits when this occurs. This is especially true for people living with dementia since their risk of death increases after being placed in long-term care facilities.
“People living with dementia who continue to live in their homes benefit from the comfort and security of a familiar space, the opportunity to maintain healthy social relationships with friends and family, continued participation in activities with others in their community, engagement with natural environments and reduced financial burden.”
