Attitudes of Nursing Home Managers Regarding Cognitively Stimulating Activities in People With Dementia: A Multicentre Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: Group-based cognitive stimulation has shown short-term benefits for the cognitive outcomes of people with dementia living in nursing homes (NH). However, group participation can be a barrier for people with advanced dementia, bedridden people or isolated people. The CogStim24 project seeks to develop and implement a new psychosocial intervention based on cognitively stimulating (CS) activities integrated into daily nursing care. As part of the intervention development process, this study aimed to survey NH managers' attitudes and describe currently used approaches to CS activities in German NH.

Methods: We performed a multicentre cross-sectional study between September and December 2021 in randomly recruited NH in the German federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia. NH representatives were asked to fill in a self-developed online questionnaire. We analysed data descriptively, presenting means and standard deviations. For case scenario questions, we used a summative content analysis.

Results: We contacted 354 NH and 106 agreed to participate. Representatives of 64 facilities completed the survey. Almost all stated to have implemented CS activities. Cognitive exercises (98%), physical and relaxation exercises (98%) and reminiscence therapy (95%) were most often used. The majority (96%) thought that CS activities could support people with dementia in maintaining their cognitive functions and that nurses should have a key role in the implementation of CS activities. More than half believed that regular CS activities were easy to implement alongside routine nursing care.

Conclusions: Results indicate that CS activities are frequently applied in German NH. The positive attitude of NH managers regarding the implementation and effects of CS activities is an important implementation resource.

Implications for practice: Nursing staff should be more involved in providing CS activities for people with dementia. Training, information, and implementation material must be made available for nursing staff who wish to have an active role in providing CS activities.