An evaluation of shared reading groups for adults living with dementia: preliminary findings

Pages75-82
Published date20 June 2016
DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1108/JPMH-06-2015-0023
Date20 June 2016
AuthorEleanor Longden,Philip Davis,Janine Carroll,Josie Billington,Peter Kinderman
Subject MatterHealth & social care,Mental health,Public mental health
An evaluation of shared reading
groups for adults living with dementia:
preliminary findings
Eleanor Longden, Philip Davis, Janine Carroll, Josie Billington and Peter Kinderman
Eleanor Longden is based at
the Institute of Psychology,
Health and Society, University
of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
Philip Davis is based at the
Institute of Psychology, Health
and Society, University of
Liverpool, Liverpool, UK and
Centre for Research into
Reading, Literature and
Society, University of Liverpool,
Liverpool, UK.
Janine Carroll is based at the
Department of Psychology,
University of Chester,
Chester, UK.
Josie Billington is based the
Centre for Research into
Reading, Literature and
Society, University of Liverpool,
Liverpool, UK.
Peter Kinderman is based at
the Institute of Psychology,
Health and Society, University
of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
Abstract
Purpose Although there is a growing evidence base for the value of psychosocial and arts-based
strategies for enhancing well-being amongst adults living with dementia, relatively little attention has been
paid to literature-based interventions. The purpose of this paper is to assess the impact of shared reading
(SR) groups, a programme developed and implemented by TheReader Organisation, on quality of life for care
home residents with mild/moderate dementia.
Design/methodology/approach In total, 31 individuals were recruited from four care homes, which were
randomly assigned to either reading-waiting groups (three months reading, followed by three months no
reading) or waiting-reading groups (three months no reading, followed by three months reading). Quality of
life was assessed by the DEMQOL-Proxy and psychopathological symptoms were assessed by the
Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire.
Findings Comparedto the waiting condition,the positive effects of SR on qualityof life were demonstrated at
the commencementof the reading groups and weremaintained once the activity ended.Low levels of baseline
symptoms preventedanalyses on whether the intervention impactedon the clinical signs of dementia.
Research limitations/implications Limitations included the small sample and lack of control for
confounding variables.
Originality/value The therapeutic potential of reading groups is discussed as a positive and practical
intervention for older adults living with dementia.
Keywords Dementia, Quality of life, Adults, Reading therapy, Arts-based strategies,
Literature-based interventions, Shared reading groups, Home residents, Mild/moderate dementia
Paper type Research paper
Dementia not only exerts a devastating impact on individuals and families, but is associated with
a substantial financial burden that is projected to reach £27 bn in the UK by 2018 (Department of
Health, 2012a). In turn, global prevalence is steadily expanding in middle- and high-income
countries, and is expected to nearly double every 20 years to 115 million cases by 2050
(Alzheimers Disease International, 2012). The importance of prioritising evidence based
treatments, including the need to promote quality of life for patients and their carers, is
increasingly recognised by policy makers (Department of Health, 2012b), with a growing
consensus that identifies living wellas an important outcome for evaluating interventions.
Consonant with more general recommendations around arts and health strategies (Staricoff,
2004), consideration has therefore been paid to a range of participatory, non-pharmacological
interventions for supporting adults living with dementia, including music therapy (Svansdottir and
Snaedal, 2006), comedy (Low et al., 2013), and art programmes (Kinney and Rentz, 2005).
For example, the storytelling intervention TimeSlips, which emphasises improvisation and
creative expression as opposed to reminiscence, has been associated with a range of positive
Received 9 June 2015
Revised 23 October 2015
15 December 2015
Accepted 18 December 2015
This evaluation was commissioned
by NHS North Westto assess the
effects of S R in care homes,
developing out of the earlier report
A Literature-Based Intervention for
Older PeopleLiving with Dementia
commissioned by the Headley Trust.
DOI 10.1108/JPMH-06-2015-0023 VOL. 15 NO. 2 2016, pp. 75-82, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 1746-5729
j
JOURNAL OF PUBLIC MENTALHEALTH
j
PAG E 75

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