Results
Evidence-Based Support for I’m Still Here® Approach to Dementia Care
Review the table BELOW for a summary of evidence supporting the I’m Still Here® approach to dementia care. The evidence indicates why we teach the I’m Still Here® approach to our trainees and clients – because it works!
The results of these and other studies confirm the impact of Hearthstone’s I’m Still Here® programs not only on people with dementia and their family members, but also on care staff and partners. The data summarized here were obtained from a variety of sources, including NIH-funded studies, internal research on Hearthstone residents, literature reviews and pre/post surveys of I’m Still Here® trainees.
To review descriptions of the measures used in this table, as well as abbreviations and references for the measures, click here.
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Domains Impacted by Hearthstone’s Programs and Approaches
| Domain | Measure(s) | Sample(s) | Findings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aggression (Any Type) |
CMAI | 15 Special,Care Units (427 residents) |
Residences that have fewer residents and have homelike qualities are correlated with reduced physical and/or verbal aggression |
| Aggression (Verbal) |
CMAI | 15 Special Care Units (427 residents) |
Residences with an appropriate sensory environment are correlated with reduced verbal aggression |
| Antipsychotic Use | % of Residents Taking Antipsychotics | Persons with dementia residing in a nursing home with staff trained on the I’m Still Here® Approach | Reduced percentage of participants taking antipsychotics after being trained on the I’m Still Here® Approach |
| Apathy | NPI-NH | Persons with dementia attending adult day centers and living at assisted living facilities and nursing homes | Reduction in apathy after regular participation in level-adjusted reading groups |
| Challenging Behaviors | CMAI | New Hearthstone residents | Reduction in challenging behaviors after living at Hearthstone for 3 months |
| Challenging Behaviors | CMAI | 15 Special Care Units (427 residents) |
The use of private rooms that contain personal belongings is correlated with reduced challenging behaviors |
| Cognition | MMSE | Persons with late stage dementia residing in long term care | Improved cognition after regular participation in level-adjusted reading groups |
| Depression | GDS | Persons with dementia attending adult day centers and living at assisted living facilities and nursing homes, who also reported depression at baseline | Reduction in depressive symptoms after regular participation in level-adjusted reading groups |
| Depression | GDS | Persons with dementia attending adult day centers and living at assisted living facilities and nursing homes, who also reported depression at baseline | Reduction in depressive symptoms after taking part in two Scripted-IMPROV™ performances |
| Depression | MOSES | 15 Special Care Units (427 residents) |
The presence of camouflaged exits and easily accessible exit controls for staff is correlated with reduced depression |
| Eating, Self-Performance | MDS | New Hearthstone residents | Increased independence with eating after living at Hearthstone for 3 months |
| Eating, Staff Assistance | MDS | New Hearthstone residents | Reduced reliance on staff with eating after living at Hearthstone for 3 months |
| Engagement | MPES | Hearthstone residents vs. similar sample of residents residing in a comparable long-term care facility | Higher levels of positive engagement for Hearthstone residents, as compared to residents at a similar type of residence |
| Engagement | MPES | Persons with dementia attending adult day centers and living at assisted living facilities and nursing homes | Higher levels of positive engagement and lower levels of negative engagement, as compared to standard programming, for persons who took part in Scripted-IMPROV™ performances |
| Engagement | MPES | Persons with dementia attending adult day centers and living at assisted living facilities and nursing homes | Higher levels of positive engagement and lower levels of negative engagement, as compared to standard programming, for persons who regularly took part in reading groups |
| Falls | Falls Per Month (on Average Over a Full Year) | Persons with dementia residing in a nursing home that was trained on the II’m Still Here® Approach | Reduced falls per month after being trained on the I’m Still Here® Approach |
| Pleasure | MPES | Persons with dementia attending adult day centers and living at assisted living facilities and nursing homes | Increase in pleasure, as compared to standard activities, for persons who took part in reading groups |
| Pleasure | MPES | Persons with dementia attending adult day centers and living at assisted living facilities and nursing homes | Increase in pleasure, as compared to standard activities, for persons who took part in Scripted-IMPROV™ |
| Psychiatric Problems | BEHAVE-AD | 15 Special Care Units (427 residents) |
The use of private rooms that contain personal belongings is correlated with reduced psychiatric problems |
| Psychiatric Problems | BEHAVE-AD | 15 Special Care Units (427 residents) |
Residences with an appropriate sensory environment are correlated with reduced psychiatric problems |
| Psychiatric Problems | BEHAVE-AD | 15 Special Care Units (427 residents) |
Residences with appropriate walking paths are correlated with reduced psychiatric problems |
| Quality of Life | DEMQOL | New Hearthstone residents | Increase in quality of life after living at Hearthstone for 3 months |
| Quality of Life | DEMQOL | Persons with dementia attending adult day centers and living at assisted living facilities and nursing homes | Increase in quality of life after regular participation in reading groups |
| Quality of Life | DEMQOL | Hearthstone residents vs. similar UK/USA samples | Higher quality of life for Hearthstone residents, as compared to similar samples of residents in the US and the UK |
| Social Withdrawal | MOSES | 15 Special Care Units (427 residents) |
The presence of several unique common spaces is correlated with reduced social withdrawal |
| Staff Utilization of Best Practices | I’m Still Here® Principles Checklist | Staff/Family Member Training Attendees | Increased use of I’m Still Here® principles after participation in I’m Still Here® trainings |
| Stigma | Zeisel Stigma Scale | Hearthstone residents vs. similar sample | Higher percentage of Hearthstone residents believe that persons with dementia “know who they are” and “can remember things,” as compared to a similar sample |
| Stigma | Zeisel Stigma Scale | Staff/Family Member Training Attendees | Reduced stigmatized beliefs after participation in an I’m Still Here® training |