Wii™ and older adults with dementia: what do caregivers think?

Currently, there are more and more dependent old people with cognitive disorders in nursing homes, who have difficulties, even disabilities, in daily life activities such as washing, dressing, eating or orienting themselves. This represents a significant workload for caregivers. Non-drug approaches have a very wide field of action, impacting the resident as well as his environment. For example, video game such as Wii™ have many advantages (low cost, easy to use, various games) and positive cognitive, motor, social and psychological effects

The objective of this qualitative study was through the establishment of a Wii™ animation in a nursing home. First, caregivers observed old people with advanced cognitive disorders in order to see changes over their participation. In a second step, these same caregivers were invited to describe their feelings about the participants reception of the Wii™ animation, after three months of using the console.

Five residents were observed and presented a gradual improvement in the understanding of the instructions (console usage and game rules), with more motivation and participation. Six caregivers observed these workshops for three months and highlighted positive reactions and final adherence to its implementation, a motivational impact and general positive effects (cognitive and motor stimulation, psychoaffective effects and favored social interactions).