Incorporating Spirituality into Cognitive Stimulation Therapy Groups for Persons with Dementia: An Exploratory Study.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Psychiatry
• Social Work

Background:

• Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) is a recognized non-pharmacological intervention for mild to moderate dementia.
• Adaptations of CST exist, but the impact of incorporating a spiritual dimension remains less explored.
• Dementia prevalence is rising globally, highlighting the need for effective management strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of integrating a spiritual component into Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) for older adults with dementia.
• To compare depression scores between participants receiving spiritual CST and traditional CST.

Main Methods:

• A 14-session intervention study involving 34 participants with mild to moderate dementia.
• Participants were allocated to either a spiritual CST group or a traditional CST group.
• Depression scores were measured post-intervention.

Main Results:

• The spiritual CST group exhibited significantly lower depression scores (M=2.7) than the traditional CST group (M=6.5).
• This suggests a potential benefit of incorporating spiritual elements into dementia care.

Conclusions:

• Adding a spiritual dimension to CST may be an effective strategy for reducing depression in older adults with dementia.
• Social workers can leverage this adapted CST approach for diverse populations valuing spirituality.
• Non-pharmacological interventions like spiritual CST are vital for supporting individuals with memory loss and improving dementia care outcomes.