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Investigation of Biophilic Interventions to Improve Mood and Behavior of Persons with Dementia

Booher, Susan G.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu159759291788336

Abstract Details

2020, Master of Fine Arts, Ohio State University, Design.
The aging population (65 years and older) is growing and the incidence of dementia is increasing with it. Dementia is a cognitive impairment that typically affects adults 65 years and older. Alzheimer’s disease is one type of dementia and there are over 100 different types. There have been pharmacological interventions, including antipsychotic medications, used to manage the symptoms of the disease, which may cause apathetic behavior or sedation. Non-pharmacological interventions (NPI) have been researched as an alternative to the use of pharmacological ones. Multi-sensory behavior therapy is the most commonly used NPI with persons with dementia. Biophilic design brings elements of nature into the built environment where they can be sensorially experienced by those within the space. Research on biophilic design’s results and implications is relatively new. Most of these studies have centered around healthcare and office environments. Results have been shown to increase patient recovery while reducing pain medication and promote worker’s productivity and health. There is little research on the relationship of biophilic design and dementia diseases. This research study investigates the potential application of biophilic design to improve the moods and activities of daily living (ADL) tasks of older adults with dementia. There have been positive results in individuals with dementia achieving independence in ADLs with the use of multi-sensory behavior therapy of Snoezelen® (a room with a video projector, color switching lights, bubble tubes, aromatherapy, and sound producing stereo) and Sonas programme (activities that stimulate all five senses, exercise, music, and singalongs) in Staal et al.’s study (2005). This thesis research, however, explores the potential impact of biophilic sensorial stimuli on the lived experiences of people with dementia. This study’s approach is collaborative and inclusive of caregivers of persons with dementia. The caregivers helped identify what biophilic design elements they might introduce as interventions to adults with dementia to improve their moods and behaviors. The interventions included various means of receiving nature through sensory stimulations. A mixed method (i.e., quantitative and qualitative) approach was used to collect data, beginning with a survey to learn about the participants’ experiences of providing care to persons with dementia and their thoughts on how adults with dementia might respond to visual images. Follow-up in-depth interviews with participants were conducted online and over the telephone. Some participants also took part in one-on-one online collaboration or co-design sessions to conceptualize sensory stimulation kits for future use by the caregivers. The findings revealed which of the biophilic components were perceived to improve the mood and/or behavior of the adults with dementia and how the caregivers might introduce them. The result of this research is the concept of a sourcebook that will be used by caregivers. The sourcebook will include tools to help ease the caregiver’s burden with planning the daily activities, recording behaviors of the person with dementia (PWD), sensorial stimulating activities and a pocket to hold family photographs.
Elizabeth B.-N. Sanders, Ph.D. (Advisor)
Rebekah Matheny (Committee Member)
Jeffrey Haase (Committee Member)
Richard Jagacinski, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
277 p.
Behavioral Psychology; Cognitive Psychology; Cognitive Therapy; Design; Environmental Health; Gerontology; Neurosciences
biophilic elements; biophilic sensorial stimulation; multi-sensorial stimulation; interventions; dementia

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Booher, S. G. (2020). Investigation of Biophilic Interventions to Improve Mood and Behavior of Persons with Dementia [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu159759291788336

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Booher, Susan. Investigation of Biophilic Interventions to Improve Mood and Behavior of Persons with Dementia . 2020. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu159759291788336.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Booher, Susan. "Investigation of Biophilic Interventions to Improve Mood and Behavior of Persons with Dementia ." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2020. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu159759291788336

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu159759291788336
160
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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.