A recently published paper in Dementia: The International Journal of Social Research and Practice, presents findings from a study by Keating, Cole and Grant.  The authors carried out an evaluation on the effectiveness of group reminiscence arts sessions for people living with dementia in both residential and nursing homes.

“The intervention was conducted in six care homes in London over a period of 24 weeks and compared with six care homes not receiving the intervention (control). Dementia Care Mapping was used as the primary data collection instrument to measure positive behaviours and rate quality of life before, during and after group reminiscence arts sessions. The evaluation team observed the sessions at three-weekly intervals.

Statistical modelling found that positive behaviours and quality of life of care home residents participating in group reminiscence arts sessions increased over the 24-week period. Well-being increased sharply during each session and plateaued at 50 minutes with a sustained positive effect after the sessions. On a longer timescale, well-being and quality of life increased slowly and steadily from one session to the next.

The study suggests that “The findings were statistically significant (p<0.001)” and concluded “that group reminiscence arts sessions can have a positive and sustained impact on the quality of life of people with dementia.”

Whilst the evidence shows a positive affect can be drawn from group reminiscence arts sessions for people living with dementia “evidence on the sustainability of the effect over time remains unknown.”

Full paper can be found on the journal website

Keating, F., Cole, L. and Grant, R. (2020) An evaluation of group reminiscence arts sessions for people with dementia living in care homes, Dementia, 19(3) pp. 805–821.