Cognitive stimulation in elderly people

Abstract

To assess the effect of a cognitive stimulation programme (CSP) on the cognition of elders. METHODS:One-group pretest-posttest study with two different samples, in different settings (studies 1 and 2) using a CSP. Study 1 took place in a Continuing Care Unit, with a sample of 13 inpatients (4 men and 9 women; mean age 66.90; SD 6.20 years). Study 2 took place in a Day Centre with a sample of 27 elders (8 men and 19 women; mean age 82.48; SD 7.06). One patient was excluded from sample 1 for not having completed the programme. Interventions were adjusted according to the participants’ impairments. The Portuguese version of Folstein’s Mini-Mental State Examination and Barthel ADL Index were used as pretest and posttest, and evolution was assessed through Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test. RESULTS: In study 1, 5 patients showed a negative evolution in cognitive function, 6 had a positive one, and 1 had no evolution. In study 2, there were 3 patients with a negative evolution, 14 with a positive one and 10 who maintained their cognitive functional level. In terms of autonomy in activities of daily living, study 1 had 9 negative evolutions, 1 positive one and 2 elders who maintained their status, whereas study 2 presented no differences in basicfunctional abilities between pretest and posttest. CONCLUSIONS: Results point toward a positive effect of cognitive stimulation on the cognitive function of older adults. Therefore, CSPs should be included in older people’s health care regimens.