Virtual programs delivered during the pandemic were effective and useful for people living with dementia and their informal caregivers, a new study finds.
The programs developed by Oshawa Senior Community Centers in Ontario, Canada, worked during the pandemic to reduce feelings of loneliness and relieving caregiving tasks. Findings show that virtual initiatives can complement in-person programs to meet the needs of the population, the authors said.
The report was published in BMC Geriatrics on Wednesday.
In the study, researchers drew on interviews from 14 people who had dementia and 11 interviews with caregivers. The team asked the people about the feasibility of virtual programs, and measured how they embraced such programs. The participants weren’t put into dyad groups, meaning that a patient could participate but their caregiver didn’t have to, which is why the groups show an uneven number of people.
Participants ranged from 60 to 79 years old, and most were between 60 and 69. Of them, 64% were female and 29% had post-secondary college degrees.
The virtual initiative consisted of two separate programs. The Zoom programs offered a variety of online recreational activities such as Zumba, chair yoga, painting, BINGO, and conversational programs. Because not all people had Zoom access, the researchers deployed the Mercury program, which provided programming over the phone such as trivia and conversational activities. The staff at the center designed the program. Participants had the option to join one or both programs.
While the virtual programs received a largely warm welcome, being able to hear on them was a challenge for many — especially when many people tried to speak at once. Involving participants’ grandchildren if they had them was seen as a positive so they could interact with younger people.
“Our study found that despite missing in-person interactions, many people with dementia experienced increased social interactions through the virtual programs, enhancing the social aspects of their daily lives,” the authors wrote.
