None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Older adults with cognitive concerns are at greater risk of loneliness, depression, and dementia. Often their cognitive difficulties are related not only to memory problems, but also to problems interacting and engaging socially with others. These problems include misreading body language, missing social cues, and having difficulty keeping conversations going. Existing treatments focus on improving memory or language, but there is no treatment that helps people enhance or maintain their social skills and connections. We received a Dementia Australia pilot grant in 2020 to co-design a ‘Maintaining Social Engagement program’ with Dementia Australia advocates. We successfully piloted this program with 10 people and found improvements in social cognitive skills (understanding oneself, understanding others, communicating with others). A randomised controlled trial will test if the program helps older adults with cognitive concerns to stay socially connected, feel more confident in social situations, and contribute to activities that are meaningful for them and potentially improve their quality of life.
Interventions
5 x 2-hour sessions involving online group social cognitive skills intervention with older adults with cognitive concerns and their care partners. The sessions cover topics such as communication skills (including verbal and non-verbal communication), managing sensory and cognitive challenges, assertive and respectful communication, maintaining good relationships, and goal setting. The facilitator will be a psychologist.
Additional points:
a) Participants will receive access via an emailed Zoom
5 x 2-hour sessions involving online group social cognitive skills intervention with older adults with cognitive concerns and their care partners. The sessions cover topics such as communication skills (including verbal and non-verbal communication), managing sensory and cognitive challenges, assertive and respectful communication, maintaining good relationships, and goal setting. The facilitator will be a psychologist. Additional points: a) Participants will receive access via an emailed Zoom link b) A random selection of group sessions will be recorded to be checked for fidelity to the intervention by an independent rater c) There will be 3-5 participants per group d) The overall time period of the intervention will be 2-hour weekly sessions over 5 weeks = 10 hours in total e) The mode of administration will be short videos, powerpoint slides, and facilitated group discussions
Sponsors
UNSW Sydney
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
55 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
People with cognitive impairment: • Aged 55 years or older • Cognitive complaints: Noticed changes in memory/thinking OR living with mild cognitive impairment or early stages of dementia • Feeling lonely sometimes • Able to join online sessions using a computer or tablet Care partners: • Care partner for a person with cognitive complaints participating in the study • Able to join online sessions using a computer or tablet
Exclusion criteria
People with cognitive impairment: • Participants that do not meet the above criteria • Memory loss or aphasia that prevents them from having conversations • Inability to manage basic activities of daily living independently • English below conversational level • Sensory loss not compensated for by visual/hearing aids • A severe psychiatric diagnosis (such as psychosis) • Life expectancy under 12 months • Being located outside of Australia Care partners: • Participants that do not meet the above criteria • Memory loss or aphasia that prevents them from having conversations • Inability to manage basic activities of daily living independently • English below conversational level • Sensory loss not compensated for by visual/hearing aids • A severe psychiatric diagnosis (such as psychosis) • Life expectancy under 12 months • Being located outside of Australia
Outcome results
None listed