Intervention strategies for spatial orientation disorders in dementia: a selective review

This article provides a brief overview of the intervention strategies aimed at reducing spatial orientation disorders in elderly people with dementia.

Eight experimental studies using spatial cues, assistive technology programs, reality orientation training, errorless learning technique, and backward chaining programs are described. They can be classified into two main approaches: restorative and compensatory, depending on whether they rely or not on residual learning ability, respectively.

A review of the efficacy of these intervention strategies is proposed. Results suggest that both compensatory and restorative approaches may be valuable in enhancing correct way-finding behavior, with various degrees of effectiveness. Some issues concerning (a) variability in participants' characteristics and experimental designs and (b) practicality of intervention strategies do not permit to draw a definite conclusion.

Future research should be aimed at a direct comparison between these two strategies, and should incorporate an extensive neuropsychological assessment of spatial domain.