The impact of a cognitive impairment support program on patients in an acute care setting: a pre-test post-test intervention study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with cognitive impairment are at greater risk of hospital acquired complications, longer hospital stays, and poor health outcomes compared to patients without cognitive impairment. The Cognitive Impairment Support Program is a multi-disciplinary approach to improve screening rates and awareness of patients with cognitive impairment and guide clinician response and communication during their hospitalisation to improve health outcomes. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the impact of implementing the Cognitive Impairment Support Program on patient hospital acquired complications, patient reported quality of life and staff satisfaction in an outer metropolitan hospital. DESIGN: A pre-test post-test design was used to collect data in two 6-month time periods between March 2020 and November 2021. PARTICIPANTS: Patients aged ≥ 65 years, admitted to a participating ward for > 24 h. INTERVENTION: The Cognitive Impairment Support Program consisted of four components: cognitive impairment screening, initiation of a Cognitive Impairment Care Plan, use of a Cognitive Impairment Identifier and associated staff education. MEASURES: The primary outcome was hospital acquired complications experienced by patients with cognitive impairment identified using clinical coding data. Secondary outcomes were patient quality of life and a staff confidence and perceived organisational support to care for patients with cognitive impairment. RESULTS: Hospital acquired complication rates did not vary significantly between the two data collection periods for patients experiencing cognitive impairment with a 0.2% (95% confidence interval: -5.7-6.1%) reduction in admissions with at least one hospital acquired complication. Patients in the post intervention period demonstrated statistically significant improvements in many items in two of the Dementia Quality of Life Measure domains: memory and everyday life. The staff survey indicated statistically significant improvement in clinical staff confidence to care for patients with cognitive impairment (p = 0.003), satisfaction with organisational support for patients (p = 0.004) and job satisfaction (p ≤ 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence that a multicomponent Cognitive Impairment Support Program had a positive impact on staff confidence and satisfaction and patient quality of life. Broader implementation with further evaluation of the multicomponent cognitive impairment intervention across a range of settings using varied patient outcomes is recommended.

Clinical indicators of acute deterioration in persons who reside in residential aged care facilities: A rapid review.

PURPOSE: To identify the clinical indicators of acute deterioration in residents and the factors that influence residential aged care facility staff's identification of these. DESIGN: Rapid review and narrative synthesis. METHODS: The WHO and Cochrane Rapid Review Methods Group recommendations guided the review processes. CINAHL, Medline, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library were searched from 2000 to January 2022. Data related to clinical indicators of deterioration were categorized using the Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure assessment framework, and factors influencing detection were grouped as consumer (resident and family), aged care workforce, and organization factors. RESULTS: Twenty publications were included of which 14 informed clinical indicators; nine highlighted factors that influence staff's identification of these and three informed both. Included article were collectively below moderate quality. Most clinical indicators were grouped into the 'Disability' category with altered level of consciousness, behavior, and pain identified most frequently. Few studies reported more traditional indicators of deterioration used in the general population - changes in vital signs. The most common factors influencing the detection of acute deterioration were organizational and workforce-related including resource, knowledge, and confidence deficits. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest subtle changes in resident's health status, rather than focusing primarily on physiologic parameters used in early warning tools for acute care settings, should be recognized and considered in the design of early warning tools for residential aged care facilities. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Early warning tools sensitive to the unique needs of residents and support for aged care facility staff are recommended to improve the capacity of aged care facility care staff to identify and manage acute deterioration early to avoid hospitalization.

Characteristics and value of 'meaningful activity' for people living with dementia in residential aged care facilities: "You're still part of the world, not just existing".

Most residential aged care facilities support residents to participate in activities and the importance of activities that are suited to individual preferences and abilities is widely acknowledged. Participating in activities, including those considered to be 'meaningful' has the potential to improve residents' quality of life. However, what makes activities meaningful for people living with dementia in residential aged care facilities is unclear. The aim of this study was to understand the key characteristics of 'meaningful activity' in residential aged care facilities and the perceived value of residents participating in these activities. Using a qualitative study design, this study explored 'meaningful activities' from the perspectives of people living with dementia in residential aged care facilities, their family members and staff. Across four residential aged care facilities, residents (n = 19) and family members (n = 17) participated in individual interviews while staff (n = 15) participated in focus group interviews. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed using a qualitative content analysis approach. Participant responses suggest that the meaning of an activity is subjective, varying over time and between individuals. Key characteristics of an activity that makes it meaningful include being enjoyable, social and engaging, aligning with the persons' interests, preferences, and abilities. To be considered meaningful, activities need to do more than occupy the person. The activity needs to be linked to a personally relevant goal and an aspect of the individuals' identity. Participating in 'meaningful activities' was perceived as valuable to encourage participation and socialising, provide a sense of normality for residents and improve their wellbeing. The findings of this study further our understanding of the concept of 'meaningful activity' for people living with dementia in residential aged care facilities. Understanding the key attributes of 'meaningful activity' can also provide practical guidance for those supporting people with dementia to participate in these types of activities.

Elements of long-term care that promote quality of life for Indigenous and First Nations Peoples: A mixed methods systematic review.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Little is known about elements of long-term care (LTC) that promote quality of life (QoL) for older Indigenous and First Nations peoples. This systematic review aimed to extend understanding of those deemed most important. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Following PRISMA guidelines, systematic database and hand-searching were used to find published and unpublished qualitative studies and textual reports. A convergent integrated approach was used to synthesize data, according to the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for mixed methods systematic reviews. RESULTS: Included papers (11 qualitative; 7 reports) explored views and experiences of Indigenous residents, families, and LTC staff from North America (8), South Africa (1), Norway (1), New Zealand (1), and Australia (7). Elements of care included: i) co-designing and collaborating with Indigenous and First Nations communities and organizations to promote culturally safe care; ii) embedding trauma-informed care policies and practices, and staff training to deliver culturally safe services; iii) being respectful of individual needs, and upholding cultural, spiritual and religious beliefs, traditional activities and practices; iv) promoting connection to culture and sense of belonging through sustained connection with family, kin and Indigenous and First Nations communities. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: This review identifies elements or models of care that promote QoL for Indigenous and First Nations peoples in LTC. While included papers were mostly from the United States and Australia, the congruence of elements promoting QoL was evident across all population groups. Findings may be used to inform standards specific to the care of Indigenous and First Nations peoples.

Advocating the rights of people with dementia to contribute to research: Considerations for researchers and ethics committees.

OBJECTIVE: Research involving people with dementia is vital to appropriately inform policy and practice decisions affecting this population. As dementia-care researchers, we frequently advocate to Human Research Ethics Committees for the right of people with dementia to choose whether to participate in research. This brief report provides some considerations for researchers and ethics committees. METHOD: Descriptive summary of principles that argue for inclusion of people with dementia in research studies. RESULTS: Specifically excluding people living with dementia from research because of perceived cognitive impairment is inappropriate in light of human rights principles and the right to contribute to evidence-based care. CONCLUSIONS: There is a difference between capacity to provide informed consent and ability to provide perspectives that are valid for each individual. Providing the opportunity for a person with dementia to participate in research and offering support to do this is a matter of human rights.

Adverse Events, Functional Decline, and Access to Allied Health Therapies for Patients With Dementia During Acute Hospitalization.

The number of patients attending acute care hospitals with a diagnosis of dementia is increasing. The impact of hospitalization on function and adverse events is perceived to be greater for patients with dementia than those without. This study compared adverse events (falls, wounds, delirium, medication errors, infections, and incontinence), functional decline, and allied health therapy for patients with and without dementia (n = 240). Patients with dementia experienced significantly more adverse events and constant observation by staff, were more dependent with mobility, hygiene and feeding, more often nil by mouth, confused, and incontinent. Patients with dementia were significantly more likely to receive speech and physiotherapy, although they did not significantly improve in function during their hospital stay. Conversely, patients without dementia significantly improved in mobility and continence. The unique health care needs of patients with dementia need to inform models of care, policy, and practice to support safe health care delivery in this vulnerable population.

Implementation of evidence-based, non-pharmacological interventions addressing behavior and psychological symptoms of dementia: a systematic review focused on implementation strategies.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify the nature and effects of implementation strategies to increase the use of evidence-based, non-pharmacological interventions designed to reduce the frequency and/or severity of behavioral and psychological symptoms associated with dementia, for people living in the community. DESIGN: This was a systematic review of implementation studies. We searched six databases (in January 2019) and hand-searched reference lists of reports. Studies were included if they used quantitative methods evaluating the use of implementation strategies to increase the use of non-pharmacological interventions. These interventions had to have been tested in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) and found to reduce behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, for those living in the community. Studies needed to report the effect of the implementation on clinical practice, for example, a change in practice or the adoption of the intervention in community settings. RESULTS: Twelve studies were included: 11 one-group pre-post design studies and 1 cluster RCT. All studies reported practice change - the majority implementing a new intervention, with six different types of interventions implemented. All studies reported including using partnerships, new funding, educational strategies, and ongoing support and consultation. Seven implementation studies reported positive outcomes for clients on some aspect of behavior or depression for the person with dementia. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation studies using multiple implementation strategies to increase the use of non-pharmacological interventions have demonstrated improvements in behavioral and psychological symptoms common in people with dementia, when provided by clinicians as part of their everyday work routines.

Health outcomes of patients with dementia in acute care settings-A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: An ageing population has resulted in increased numbers of people with dementia attending acute care services; however, the impact of hospitalisation on this population is uncertain. PURPOSE: This systematic review aimed to synthesise the available evidence on adverse health outcomes for people with dementia in acute care settings. METHODS: A systematic search of CINAHL, PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE and Scopus databases for primary research articles in English language, published from 2000 to 2017, was conducted. A protocol for the review was registered on the PROSPERO database. RESULTS: The initial search identified 5,520 records. Following removal of duplicates and assessment against inclusion criteria, 13 studies were included in the final review. Findings identify associations between patients with dementia, longer length of hospital stay and higher mortality in some situations. Heterogeneity across studies in data reporting and outcomes prevented meta-analysis; therefore, results are presented narratively. CONCLUSIONS: Certainty of findings from this review is impacted by variation in patient condition and data reporting. Additional rigorous studies on health outcomes for people with dementia during acute hospitalisation will contribute to the evidence. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: These findings along with further research examining outcomes for patients with dementia in acute care settings will inform provision of safer, quality care and optimal health outcomes for this vulnerable population.

Exploring the prevalence and management of wounds for people with dementia in long-term care.

The prevalence of wounds and comorbidities such as dementia increase with age. With an ageing population, the likelihood of overlap of these conditions is strong. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of wound types and current management strategies of wound care for people with dementia in long-term care (LTC). A scoping literature review, a cross-sectional observational and chart audit study of residents in dementia specific facilities in LTC were conducted. The scoping review indicated that people with dementia/cognitive impairment are often excluded from wound related studies andof the nine studies included in this review, none looked at the prevalence of types of wounds other then pressure injuries. In the skin audit, skin tears were noted as the most common wound type with some evidence-based practice strategies in place for residents. However, documentation of current wound occurred in less than a third of residents with wounds. This is the first study to note the prevalence of different wound types in people with dementia and current management strategies being used across two dementia-specific facilities and a lack of research in this area limits evidence in guiding practice.

Use and reporting of experience-based codesign studies in the healthcare setting: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Experience-based codesign (EBCD) is an approach to health service design that engages patients and healthcare staff in partnership to develop and improve health services or pathways of care. The aim of this systematic review was to examine the use (structure, process and outcomes) and reporting of EBCD in health service improvement activities. METHODS: Electronic databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO and The Cochrane Library) were searched to identify peer-reviewed articles published from database inception to August 2018. Search terms identified peer-reviewed English language qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods studies that underwent independent screening by two authors. Full texts were independently reviewed by two reviewers and data were independently extracted by one reviewer before being checked by a second reviewer. Adherence to the 10 activities embedded within the eight-stage EBCD framework was calculated for each study. RESULTS: We identified 20 studies predominantly from the UK and in acute mental health or cancer services. EBCD fidelity ranged from 40% to 100% with only three studies satisfying 100% fidelity. CONCLUSION: EBCD is used predominantly for quality improvement, but has potential to be used for intervention design projects. There is variation in the use of EBCD, with many studies eliminating or modifying some EBCD stages. Moreover, there is no consistency in reporting. In order to evaluate the effect of modifying EBCD or levels of EBCD fidelity, the outcomes of each EBCD phase (ie, touchpoints and improvement activities) should be reported in a consistent manner. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42018105879.

"Would you like to join me for a walk?" The feasibility of a supervised walking programme for people with dementia who wander.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: Five of the eight focus areas of Bowen's Feasibility Framework were utilised to assess the feasibility of implementing the Safe Walking Program (SWP) with people with severe dementia who wander in long-term care (LTC). BACKGROUND: Dementia-related wandering in LTC is associated with adverse outcomes related to intensity (malnutrition, exhaustion and pain, injury) and type of walking (sleep deprivation, resident violence and elopement, death). There is little evidence guiding best practice for managing wandering in LTC. DESIGN: The SWP involved a three-week trial of taking residents (n = 7) for a 30-min supervised walk, 30 min before individual peak walking activity periods (PWAP), outside the care facility. Quantitative (real-time observation and 24/7 Actigraph™ data: not reported here) and qualitative data were collected pre-, during and postintervention. METHODS: Feasibility to implement the SWP protocol was evaluated using a protocol fidelity checklist completed at the end of each scheduled intervention. Acceptability and sustainability of the programme were evaluated through staff interviews. RESULTS: Eighty per cent of scheduled walks commenced and were completed, with 91% of walks lasting the full 30 min. Care staff reported benefits for participants and care staff. The perceived sustainability of the SWP in the LTC setting was impacted by the strict timing of the walk to coincide with participant's individual PWAP. The use of care staff to lead some scheduled walks was seen as interfering with care routines. CONCLUSIONS: To enhance the acceptability/sustainability of the SWP in LTC, further testing of the importance of dose and timing is required. Consideration needs to be given to suggested modifications to the protocol. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The SWP is an acceptable and enjoyable activity for people with severe dementia who wander. Utilising walking tracks around the neighbourhood was perceived as being an important element of the programme.

A national survey of aged care facility managers' views of preparedness for natural disasters relevant to residents with dementia.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to explore the natural disaster preparedness strategies of Australian residential aged care facilities (RACFs), focussing on aspects relevant to people with dementia. METHODS: An online survey was sent to 2617 RACF managers, with 416 responding. Questions included the following: (a) demographics; (b) presence and detail level of disaster/evacuation plans; and (c) references to people with dementia. RESULTS: One in four facilities had experienced a natural disaster in the previous five years. The majority had plans for natural disaster and evacuation. Two-thirds recognised the unique needs of people with dementia. Managers anticipated that residents with dementia would require more staff time and resources and might become disoriented. CONCLUSIONS: Gaps identified in existing RACF evacuation plans highlighted challenges in ensuring the ongoing safety and care of residents, especially those with dementia. Facilities need to have adequate plans and processes that minimise the potential risks of natural disasters.

NonPharmacological interventions for managing wandering in the community: A narrative review of the evidence base.

Dementia-related wandering is exhibited by as many as 63% of people with dementia living in the community. There is strong evidence that people with dementia who wander are at risk of life-threatening outcomes including injury from falls, exhaustion, weight loss, and becoming lost. Furthermore, carers have reported that fear of a person with dementia becoming lost contributes to them taking extreme measures in an attempt to maintain safety at home and there are few guidelines to direct care practices. Previous literature reviews of interventions to manage wandering have been inconclusive as the quality of research resulted in most studies being excluded. This narrative review aimed to report on the current state of wandering intervention science for people with dementia cared for in the community. An extensive search of articles and grey literature published between January 1999 and November 2017 was conducted and included quantitative studies that reported findings of nonpharmacological interventions for people with dementia living in the community that reported outcome measures of wandering characteristics (e.g., frequent ambulation, pacing, and boundary transgression). Eleven papers met the inclusion criteria, the majority of which were small nonrandomised studies or case studies with interventions that focused on: engaging the person with dementia in an activity, improving safety with environmental modifications, and technology to improve navigation or to monitor movement. While the strength of the evidence was low, the review has identified some promising interventions that carers of people with dementia could trial to reduce risky aspects of wandering, as well as identifying potential directions for future research.

People with dementia getting lost in Australia: Dementia-related missing person reports in the media.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to understand the circumstances in which people with dementia become lost, and the outcomes of these incidents. METHODS: A search was conducted of news articles published in Australia between 2011 and 2015 reporting a missing person with a diagnosis of dementia. RESULTS: Over the five-year period, 130 missing person cases were reported. The average age of the missing person was 75 years with more men (74%) than women reported missing. Most missing persons travelled on foot (62%) and were last seen at home (66%). The newspaper reports described 92 (71%) of the individuals being found. Of these, 60% were found well, 20% were found injured, and 20% were deceased. CONCLUSIONS: People with dementia are at risk of becoming lost from their homes or health-care settings, and this can have catastrophic outcomes. Care strategies need to focus on promoting autonomy while ensuring adverse outcomes are minimised.

Recruitment of Individuals With Dementia and Their Carers for Social Research: Lessons Learned From Nine Studies.

Many health and social care research studies report difficulties recruiting sufficient numbers of participants, adding to time and money expenditures and potentially jeopardizing the generalizability of findings. The current article reports the effectiveness and resource requirements of recruitment strategies used in nine dementia-related studies conducted in Australia. Articles, notices, or advertisements in targeted specialist newsletters were the most cost-effective method of recruitment. The use of service providers to aid recruitment yielded mixed results, but was lengthy in terms of research time. Online and social media were low cost but not reliably effective in terms of recruitment potential. Despite using multiple strategies to maximize recruitment, significant challenges were encountered achieving the required sample sizes; in most cases these challenges resulted in delays in the recruitment phase. Implications for researchers in the fields of dementia and general social/health research are discussed. [Res Gerontol Nurs. 2018; 11(3):119-128.].

Association between social interaction and affect in nursing home residents with dementia.

BACKGROUND: Social interactions that lead to positive affect are fundamental to human well-being. However, individuals with dementia are challenged to achieve positive social interaction. It is unclear how social interactions influence affect in people with dementia. This study examined the association between social interactions and affect in nursing home residents with dementia. METHODS: This repeated measures study used baseline data from a clinical trial in which 126 residents from 12 nursing homes were enrolled. Participants were video recorded twice daily on five days. Ratings of social interaction and affect were taken from the videotapes using the Interacting with People subscale of the Passivity in Dementia and the Philadelphia Geriatric Center Apparent Affect Rating Scale. Linear mixed models were used for analysis. RESULTS: Social interaction was significantly related to higher interest and pleasure at within- and between-person levels. Social interaction significantly predicted anxiety and sadness at the between-person level only. Residents with higher cognitive function also displayed greater pleasure. Greater interest and anxiety was evident during the afternoon hours. CONCLUSIONS: This study supports the impact of social interactions on positive and negative affect. Findings can guide intervention development, aimed at promoting positive social interactions and improving affect for people with dementia.

Determinants of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia: A scoping review of the evidence.

BACKGROUND: Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are prevalent in people with neurodegenerative diseases. PURPOSE: In this scoping review the Kales, Gitlin and Lykestos framework is used to answer the question: What high quality evidence exists for the patient, caregiver and environmental determinants of five specific BPSD: aggression, agitation, apathy, depression and psychosis? METHOD: An a priori review protocol was developed; 692 of 6013 articles retrieved in the search were deemed eligible for review. Gough's Weight of Evidence Framework and the Cochrane Collaboration's tool for assessing risk of bias were used. The findings from 56 high quality/low bias articles are summarized. DISCUSSION: Each symptom had its own set of determinants, but many were common across several symptoms: neurodegeneration, type of dementia, severity of cognitive impairments, and declining functional abilities, and to a lesser extent, caregiver burden and communication. CONCLUSION: Research and policy implications are relevant to the National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease.

The Trajectory of Tolerance for Wandering-related Boundary Transgression: An Exploration of Care Staff and Family Perceptions.

Purpose of the Study: This study aimed to explore the experience of living with and caring for a person with dementia who wanders and transgresses boundaries into out-of-bounds and potentially hazardous areas (wandering-related boundary transgression [BT]), from the perspective of family members and care staff. Design and Methods: This descriptive qualitative study utilized four focus groups with care staff (n = 28), one with family members (n = 4), and individual interviews (n = 8) with family members. Content analysis generated key concepts that formed the basis of the development of a theoretical understanding of the experience. Results and Implications: Care staff and families described wandering-related BT as a common dementia-related behavior in residential aged care (RAC). Drawing on the generated concepts, a complex theoretical trajectory of tolerance for BT was developed. At one end of the trajectory, BT was perceived as being beyond the control of the individual and when unwitnessed by others, having little or no impact. Tolerance for BT shifted when the BT was witnessed by others, and potentially unsafe consequences for the person who wanders or their coresidents were experienced. Under the latter circumstances, BT was perceived as a troubling behavior that needed more effective management. Underpinning the complexity of this behavior was a constantly shifting perception of how hazardous this behavior might be, a factor that appeared to contribute to the challenges faced by families and care staff.

Observing wandering-related boundary transgression in people with severe dementia.

OBJECTIVES: Wandering-related boundary transgression (BT) in long term care (LTC) frequently manifests as intrusion into another resident's bedroom and is associated with adverse outcomes (loss of privacy, resident-to-resident altercations, and becoming lost). This observational study is the first to empirically describe the characteristics of wandering-related BT in LTC residents with severe dementia. METHOD: Using real-time observation, seven independently ambulant residents with severe dementia and a positive history of wandering and BT were observed for a minimum of twelve 30 minute periods randomized over two non-consecutive days (n=92 observation periods). Frequency and duration of locomoting/non-locomoting phases and BT (entry into out of bounds/private space), patterns of ambulation (direct, random, pacing, and lapping), and activities observed during BT were measured during observation periods. RESULTS: Across 431 locomoting phases, 58 (13%) resulted in a BT and the bedroom of another resident was most frequently (86%) involved. BT was statistically associated with random ambulation and peak activity periods, and was observed more often in those with more frequent ambulation. Most BT events were unwitnessed by others and occurred when the participant was alone. CONCLUSIONS: Describing BT has increased understanding of when, where, and how BT occurs and provides background for future intervention research.

Effectiveness of meaningful occupation interventions for people living with dementia in residential aged care: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The ability to participate in valued activities, whether for work, leisure or family, is an important aspect of personal identity. In dementia, progressive memory loss means that abilities developed over a lifetime begin to be lost as well, contributing to the loss of self and identity. Some studies have reported that activities or interventions tailored to be meaningful to the person with dementia (defined as any activity important to the individual) are more effective in addressing behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) and improving quality of life (QoL) than those that are not so tailored. However, the effectiveness of individualizing interventions or activities for this population is not known. OBJECTIVES: In response to consumer feedback by the Consumer Dementia Research Network that this question ought to be addressed, this review was undertaken, the aim of which was to determine the effectiveness of meaningful occupation interventions for people living with dementia in residential aged care facilities (RACFs). INCLUSION CRITERIA: People living with dementia in RACFs (nursing homes).Any intervention that was individualized to be meaningful to the participant, versus any active control condition or usual care.Experimental and observational studies. TYPES OF OUTCOMES: Quality of life, BPSD (such as agitation, aggression, depression, wandering and apathy), mood, function, cognition and sleep. SEARCH STRATEGY: The search strategy aimed to identify both published and unpublished studies, with the following 12 databases extensively searched: PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, ISI Web of Science, OTSeeker, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL, clinicaltrials.gov, Mednar, OpenSIGLE, New York Academy of Medicine Library Gray Literature Report, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses. The search strategy was limited to papers published in English between 2004 and January 31, 2015. METHODOLOGICAL QUALITY: All studies were assessed independently by two reviewers for relevance, eligibility and methodological quality. DATA EXTRACTION: Data from included papers were extracted using a standard data extraction tool. DATA SYNTHESIS: Where possible, study results were pooled in statistical meta-analysis. Alternatively, results are presented in narrative and tabular form. RESULTS: A total of 5274 citations were identified; after removal of duplicates, assessment for relevance and eligibility, 61 studies underwent critical appraisal. Thirty-four studies met the quality criteria and were included in a quantitative synthesis. A wide range of interventions were evaluated including individualized recreational activities (13 studies), reminiscence therapy (RT) (seven studies), music therapy interventions (six studies), training staff to develop individual care plans using person-centered care (PCC) or similar approaches (three studies), animal-assisted therapy (two studies), multi-sensory interventions (MSIs) (two studies) and social interaction (one study), all of which measured a number of different outcomes. Overall, and in spite of most studies being small-scale and of relatively brief duration, all interventions with the exception of Snoezelen therapy (a MSI) reported some benefits for people with dementia living in RACFs. The most frequently reported benefits were reductions in agitation (the most frequently assessed outcome), passivity and depression, improved QoL and increases in pleasure and interest. However, the majority of studies generally implemented the intervention, whether it was individualized activities, music or RT or other, in conjunction with one-to-one social interaction, and the relative importance of the intervention in comparison to one-to-one social contact for effectiveness cannot be determined from this review. CONCLUSION: Providing meaningful or individualized tailored activities for people with dementia living in RACFs appears to be effective for a range of behavioral and psychological symptoms. The strongest evidence was for individualized activities/recreational interventions for a range of BPSD; preferred music for agitation, depression and anxiety; and RT for mood and cognitive functioning. Insufficient evidence precluded making recommendations regarding animal-assisted (dog) therapy and training staff to develop individual care plans using PCC or similar approaches, while there was no good quality evidence to show that Snoezelen was effective for any outcome. What remains unclear, however, is whether any of these interventions is more effective than the provision of one-to-one social interaction.