Environmental and Sensory Intervention for Nursing Home Residents With Dementia Who Exhibit Persistent Vocalizations (EASE)

Drexel University

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Dementia

Treatments: Behavioral: Environmental And Sensory Experience (EASE) intervention

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT06568107

5K23NR018673 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

2003007693

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to test a person-centered, nature-based non-pharmacological intervention for nursing home residents living with dementia who exhibit persistent vocalizations. The Environmental And Sensory Experience (EASE) involves the projection of a still nature image and the playing of nature sounds. Family members of the person living with dementia provide consent for the resident to participate in the study and complete a brief survey on nature preferences on the resident's behalf. The survey informs the research team on what nature scene to show. Participants will wear a watch that measures stress levels and research staff will monitor vocalization patterns. We will also recruit persons living with dementia from other settings such as assisted living, personal care units, and adult day care settings.

Full description

After enrolling in the study, participants will participate in three study visits. During the first two visits, study personnel will observe the nursing home resident to collect data on the resident's vocalizing behaviors (persistent vocalizations, PVs). These visits will last for roughly six hours, one during the day shift and one during the evening shift. The third visit will last approximately 90 minutes. During this visit, study personnel will observe vocalizing behaviors before, during, and after the EASE intervention is in use. Residents will also wear a watch for all three visits that records information about their heart rate and stress levels. All visits will occur in the resident's natural environment- either their room or common space and will be scheduled at the convenience of the resident and NH staff.

The aims of the study are:

Aim 1: Examine the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of the EASE to reduce PVs among NH residents.

Aim 2: Evaluate the NH staff perception of the acceptability of the EASE within 48 hours post-intervention.

Aim 3: Examine the mechanism of action of the EASE.

Enrollment: 32 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 50+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• The participants must: 1) have a medical diagnosis of dementia; 2) have severe dementia as determined by a MMSE score of ≤9 (or another cognitive test indicating severe dementia); 3) have a history of PVs per staff report; 4) be 50 years older or greater; 5) require extensive assistance by staff to ambulate or is non-ambulatory (to allow for consistent video recording). In addition, consent will be obtained from the resident's Legally Authorized Representative (LAR) and assent from the participant.

Exclusion criteria

• Persons living with dementia will be excluded if they: 1) are blind; 2) are deaf; 3) give indications of dissent. Variations will be sought for gender, race and ethnicity.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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32 participants in 1 patient group

EASE Intervention

Experimental group

Description:

Thirty-two persons with dementia will be exposed by an interventionist to an Environmental And Sensory Experience (EASE) intervention which involves a tailored, person-centered nature scene projected with associated nature sounds. A within-person design will be used where the participants will serve as their own controls and be observed 30 minutes prior to, 30 minutes during, and for 30 minutes directly after EASE.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Environmental And Sensory Experience (EASE) intervention