Stories in the Moment: Dance Program for People Living With Dementia

Launched by DANCESTREAM PROJECTS · Jan 14, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The "Stories in the Moment" clinical trial is exploring how an online dance program can improve the quality of life and wellbeing for people living with dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and their care partners. Over the course of one year, participants will join a weekly one-hour dance session on Zoom for 12 weeks. Before and after the program, they will complete questionnaires to share their thoughts and feelings about their experiences. At the end of the program, there will be a focus group where participants can discuss how the dance sessions impacted them.

To be eligible for the study, participants must be aged 50 or older and have a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment or mild to moderate dementia. They also need to have a care partner, like a family member or friend, who spends time with them and can help them join the study. Both the person with dementia and their care partner need to be comfortable using Zoom on a computer, tablet, or smartphone. The study aims to enroll up to 72 participants, focusing on those living in the United States. This is a great opportunity for those looking to engage in a fun activity that may enhance their wellbeing.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Criteria:
• Inclusion Criteria (person living with dementia):
• • age 50 or older
• • a self-reported mild cognitive impairment or dementia diagnosis and mild-moderate dementia severity (confirmed by care partner or collateral)
• • a care partner or a collateral (a family member, paid caregiver, or close friend who spends at least 8 hours/week with the person living with dementia and speaks fluent English) who consents to join the study
• • English fluency, categorized as not requiring translation into another language. Being non-verbal or having limited verbal ability will not be considered exclusion criteria but this condition will be noted.
• • access to and basic ability to use the videoconferencing platform (Zoom) on a digital device (tablet, telephone or computer) (or access to support therein).
• Inclusion criteria (care partner or a collateral - defined as a family member, paid caregiver, or close friend who spends at least 8 hours/week with the person living with dementia):
• • age 18 and older
• • speaks fluent English
• • access to and basic ability to use the videoconferencing platform (Zoom) on a digital device (tablet, telephone or computer) (or access to support therein).
• Exclusion Criteria (person living with dementia):
• • Persons living with dementia unable to provide consent or assent. Persons living with dementia who do not have capacity to provide consent but are capable of providing assent will be included if a care partner or collateral who is a legally authorized representative provides consent.
• • Persons living with dementia with severe dementia (classified as being unable to sit up independently and being non-ambulatory within the upper extremities) will be excluded. Being non-verbal or having limited verbal ability will not be considered exclusion criteria but this condition will be noted. For these participants, attempts will be made to capture responses to questionnaires via alternative communication methods (gesture, facial expression, typing in the chat) and the care partner or collateral will be asked to corroborate or supplement the responses.
• • Lack of reliable access to a digital device with Zoom application.
• Exclusion criteria (care partner or a collateral):
• • • Lack of reliable access to a digital device with Zoom application.