Background Dementia, a clinical syndrome characterized by a progressive decline of cognitive and physical functions. The prevalence has doubled between 1990 and 2016 to 43.8 million people. Pain,...Show moreBackground Dementia, a clinical syndrome characterized by a progressive decline of cognitive and physical functions. The prevalence has doubled between 1990 and 2016 to 43.8 million people. Pain, discomfort and lack of stimulation are the most common unmet needs in people with dementia. Namaste Care, a multisensory intervention, has been shown to be somewhat effective in addressing these needs. Evidence for Namaste Care effectiveness is inconclusive and there is a need for more randomized controlled trials with large sample sizes to further solidify the evidence base for the workings and effectiveness of this intervention . This study aims to further establish the if the Namaste Care Family programme, an adapted version of Namaste Care, is capable of addressing these unmet needs. Method 19 nursing homes participated in this study, resulting in 231 participants separated into the control and intervention condition. Measurements took place from baseline, through 1, 3, 6 and 12 months follow-up. Observations were carried out by trained researchers using the Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia (PAINAD), the Discomfort Scale-Dementia or Alzheimer Type (DSDAT) and through observing frequency of positive vocalizations, which is an important dimension of being stimulated (engagement). Results The Namaste Care Family programme led to higher frequencies of positive vocalizations over time (F(2.771, 322.266) = 4.608 , p = .005). Discomfort scores at 6 and 12 months follow-up were significantly lower than those of controls (t(58) = 2.926, p = .005 and t(31) = 3.338, p = .002). This effect on discomfort seemed to translate to daily life as there was no significant difference in discomfort scores between Namaste sessions and daily life. There was a dose-response relationship between pain and Namaste dosage. Pain scores were significantly lower at 12 months follow-up as frequency and duration of attended Namaste Care Family sessions increased (F(1, 51) = 7.088 p = 0.01). Discussion and conclusion This large scale randomized controlled trial suggests that the Namaste Care Family programme could be an effective intervention component in providing stimulation, pain and discomfort management.Show less
