TITLE:
Effects of Sustained, Coordinated Activities Programming in Long-Term Care: The Memory in Rhythm® Program
AUTHORS:
Iva De Witt-Hoblit, Mary Neal Miller, Cameron J. Camp
KEYWORDS:
Dementia, Engagement, Medication Reduction, Agitation, Wandering, ADLs, Employee Turnover, Census, Long-Term Care, Assisted Living
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Aging Research,
Vol.5 No.1,
January
28,
2016
ABSTRACT: Beneficial effects of providing engaging activities to long-term care residents have been well documented. However, it is important to determine the effects of activities when providing throughout the day, especially as they related to outcomes salient to administrators. We describe the creation and pilot testing of a sustained, coordinated activities program, Memory in Rhythm®(MIR), which incorporated Montessori-Based Dementia Programming™, in a skilled nursing facility (SNF). Effects of implementing MIR then were examined in memory care units in 16 aged care centers—9 SNFs and 7 assisted living residences in Ohio. For these centers, all data were collected over a period of one year before and one year after implementation of MIR. Results indicate that implementation of MIR was associated with reductions in medication use, increased census, decreased employee turnover, decreased wandering and agitation, and increased sleeping at night, eating and capacity for activities of daily living. In the SNFs, increases in RUGS case mix and use of Medicare Part B (rehabilitation services) were noted, while in assisted living implementation also was related to increased amount of time residents who were able to age in place. Implications of these findings are discussed.