Usability of films designed for people with dementia in a nursing home setting

Abstract

Although films and television are frequently used in nursing homes, there is limited knowledge of how they affect people with dementia. Life in the Memories is a collection of 50 short films targeted at people with dementia. The overall objective of the study was to assess the usability of these films in nursing homes and whether they can be used for reminiscence purposes. Workshops were carried out in seven nursing homes, followed by four weeks of practice testing. Data were obtained from 63 professional caregivers working with residents with dementia through a cross-sectional survey and focus group interviews. The results consistently indicated that the films can maintain the attention of people with dementia, evoke memories, and create conversation. Compared to classic reminiscence activities, caregivers rate the use of the films as easier and less time consuming. The study supported that the films can be utilized for recreational and reminiscence purposes.