Effects of Aromatherapy and Foot Reflex Massage on Emotion, Sleep Disturbance, and Wandering Behavior in Older Adults with Dementia

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study was to evaluate the effects of aromatherapy and foot reflex massage on emotion, sleep disturbance and wandering behavior in older adults with dementia. METHODS: This is a quasi-experimental study with a non-equivalent control group. A total of 39 participants were divided into two groups. Aromatherapy and foot reflex massage was administrated to experimental group (N=19). There was no treatment for the control group (N=20). Data were analyzed using the SPSS/Win 18.0 program. RESULTS: Experimental group showed significant differences in emotion, sleep disturbance and wandering behavior in comparison to the control group. CONCLUSION: The results showed that aromatherapy and foot reflex massage program was effective on emotion, sleep and decreasing a wandering behavior in older adults with dementia. This research suggests that aromatherapy and foot reflex massage could be recommended as a nursing intervention for enhancing quality of life in older adults with dementia.