Cheng, Sheung-Tak, Chow, Pizza K., Yu, Edwin C.S., Chan, Alfred C.M.

Objectives: : To examine whether leisure activities can alleviate depressive symptoms among nursing home residents with very mild to mild dementia.; Methods: : A cluster-randomized open-label controlled design. Thirty-six residents with at least moderate depressive symptoms were randomized by home into three conditions-mahjong (a.k.a. mah-jongg), tai chi, and handicrafts (placebo). Activities were conducted three times […]

Losada, Andrés, Márquez-González, María, Romero-Moreno, Rosa

Objective: Different studies show the negative effects on caregivers’ health of maladaptive thoughts and the positive effects of engaging in pleasurable activities on distress. The aim of this study is to (a) test the efficacy of a cognitive-behavioral intervention aimed at training caregivers to flexibilize maladaptive thoughts regarding caregiving and increasing their leisure activities and […]

Cheng, S. T., Chow, P. K., Song, Y. Q., Yu, E. C., Lam, J. H.

BACKGROUND: To examine the effects of complex cognitive (mahjong) and physical (Tai Chi) activities on dementia severity in nursing home residents with dementia. METHODS: Cluster-randomized open-label controlled design. 110 residents were randomized by nursing home into three conditions: mahjong, Tai Chi, and simple handicrafts (control). Activities were conducted three times a week for 12 weeks. […]

Hirano, Akemi, Suzuki, Yusuke, Kuzuya, Masafumi, Onishi, Joji, Ban, Nobutaro, Umegaki, Hiroyuki

With an aim to improve quality of life in caregivers of dementia patients, we examined the effect of regular exercise on caregivers’ sense of burden and their physical symptoms. Participants were 31 elderly caregivers living with older patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s-type dementia. They were randomly assigned to either the intervention group, who were prescribed regular […]

Cheng, Sheung-Tak, Chow, Pizza K., Song, You-Qiang, Yu, Edwin C.S., Chan, Alfred C.M., Lee, Tatia M.C., Lam, John H.M.

Objectives: To examine the effects of cognitive stimulation (mahjong) and physical exercise (tai chi [TC]) on cognitive performance in persons with dementia.; Design: Cluster-randomized open-label controlled design.; Setting: Nursing homes.; Participants: One hundred ten residents, most of whom were cholinesterase-inhibitor naive. Inclusion criteria were Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) = 10-24 and suffering from at least very mild […]

Carbonneau, Hélène, Caron, Chantal D., Desrosiers, Johanne

The loss of autonomy associated with dementia affects the people with dementia themselves as well as their caregivers who are often left feeling powerless and incompetent in their caregiving role. Most of the programs developed to support caregivers focus on burden and do not consider the positive aspects of caregiving. Leisure represents a way to […]