Reasoning Exercises in Assisted Living (REAL): a feasibility study

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Cognitive Psychology
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Assisted living residents face cognitive decline risks, potentially leading to nursing home placement.
• Cognitive training is known to preserve cognition and self-care in community-dwelling elders.
• There is a need for targeted interventions to support cognitive function in assisted living settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a cognitive training program on reasoning and everyday problem-solving skills in assisted living residents.
• To assess the immediate and sustained impact of the intervention over a three-month follow-up period.

Main Methods:

• A pilot study involving four assisted living residents who participated in six Reasoning Exercises in Assisted Living (REAL) training sessions over one month.
• Problem-solving abilities were assessed pre-intervention, immediately post-intervention, and at a three-month follow-up using the Everyday Problems for Cognitively Challenged Elderly (EPCCE) scale.

Main Results:

• Participants demonstrated a significant 20% increase in EPCCE scores from pre-intervention to post-intervention (p = .05).
• The improvements in EPCCE scores were sustained at the three-month follow-up assessment (p = .03).

Conclusions:

• The REAL cognitive training program shows promise for enhancing everyday problem-solving skills in assisted living residents.
• The intervention appears to provide lasting cognitive benefits, potentially delaying or preventing nursing home placement.