Participants sought for new dementia research programme

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Ann Casey

Published: Thu 9 Sep 2021, 9:30 PM

Last updated: Thu 9 Sep 2021, 9:33 PM

A Bohermeen woman who is leading a national research project on dementia is looking for participants who have mild to moderate levels of memory and thinking difficulties because of their dementia.

Dr Orla Brady Dolan is carrying out the research in partnership with The Alzheimer’s Association of Ireland, and with support from a research grant she received from the Irish Research Council.

Orla is a lecturer in Occupational Therapy at NUI Galway and also a senior Occupational Therapist (OT) with the HSE in Longford and Westmeath.

She has a particular interest in dementia care and is passionate about her work in this area.

A native of Delvin she lives in Bohermeen and was a founder member of the Meath Internet Cafe.

For many years, as part of Orla’s work as an OT, she delivered face to face small group therapy called Cognitive Stimulation Therapy, otherwise known as CST (www.cstdementia.com) for individuals who live with dementia.

"Group CST treatment involves 14 or more sessions of themed activities, which typically run twice weekly. CST is one of the best practice non-drug therapies for anyone living with mild to moderate dementia and has a robust evidence base to support its use," she explains.

When Covid-19 hit our shores, Orla piloted running the CST programme virtually on Microsoft teams.

"This gave some preliminary evidence that CST does have a positive effect on individuals living with dementia in terms of their memory and thinking skills. This is what led me to this research project."

This project is a research study to evaluate the outcomes of virtual Cognitive Stimulation Therapy in Ireland. If you express a willingness to be involved in this research, you will be contacted by Orla herself. You will be interviewed, either on the phone or online using a computer or iPad/tablet. The interview will last approximately 40 minutes and can be completed over two or more sessions if this is required. Questions will be related to your level of functioning at that time and your quality of life. There are also some questions for your carer or family member. This interview will be done before and after the treatment phase of the programme to determine if there have been any changes. You will then be randomly selected for one of two groups. If you are selected for the treatment group you will receive 14 sessions of virtual CST by an Occupational Therapist. If you are selected for the control group you will participate in the assessments and will receive a home programme based on CST principles.

"I am looking forward to hearing from anyone that this project might help," she says. "The study is due to commence in two weeks’ time so please don’t hesitate to get in contact to secure your place."

Cognitive Stimulation Therapy is a group treatment programme suitable for individuals who live with dementia and have a mild to moderate level of thinking and memory difficulties. It is considered a best practice treatment programme for those individuals living with dementia.

It involves small groups of 7-10 participants who meet twice a week for seven weeks.

The therapist plans themed activities that aim to provide stimulation for thinking, concentration and memory. Activities can include number games, card games, creativity and categorising.