Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2008 Aug-Sep;23(4):372-6.
doi: 10.1177/1533317508316681. Epub 2008 May 4.

Multisensory stimulation for elderly with dementia: a 24-week single-blind randomized controlled pilot study

Roumen V Milev  1 , Tracey Kellar, Marilyn McLean, Vicky Mileva, Veb Luthra, Shiela Thompson, Linda Peever
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Multisensory stimulation for elderly with dementia: a 24-week single-blind randomized controlled pilot study

Roumen V Milev et al. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen. 2008 Aug-Sep.

Abstract

Background: Dementia in the elderly is a common, debilitating condition. Residents in long-term care facilities present with a number of challenging behaviors. Pharmacological management is not always helpful. Alternative approaches are needed.

Methods: Multisensory stimulation (MSS) was developed to address sensory stimulation imbalance. In this pilot 24-week single-blinded, randomized controlled study, the authors examined the effect of MSS when given for 12 weeks in either 1 or 3 sessions per week with a control group.

Results: There is a trend for better outcomes as measured by daily observation scales (DOS) or Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I) with the increase of sessions of treatment per week. This became statistically significant at weeks 8 (DOS) and 12 (CGI). This difference continued for 12 additional weeks after treatment ended.

Conclusions: MSS may be a useful addition to the care of elderly patients with dementia. A larger double-blind randomized control study is required.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Kovach CR Sensoristasis and imbalance in persons with dementia. J Nurs Scholarsh. 2000;32:379-384. - PubMed
    1. Gerdner L., Hall G., Buckwalter K. Caregiver training for people with Alzheimer's based on a stress threshold model. J Nurs Scholarsh. 1996;28:241-246. - PubMed
    1. Verkaik R., van Weert J., Francke A. The effects of psychosocial methods on depressed, aggressive and apathetic behaviors of people with dementia: a systematic review. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2005;20:301-314. - PubMed
    1. Chitsey AM, Haight BK, Jones MM Snoezelen: a multisensory environmental intervention. J Gerontol Nurs. 2002;28:41-49. - PubMed
    1. Chung JCC , Lai CKY. Snoezelen for dementia (review). Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2002;(4):CD003152. doi: 10.1002/14651858. - PMC - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms