Date of Completion

2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Keywords

Dementia

Abstract

Objectives: General: This systematic review explored common structured physical activities for institutionalized older adults with dementia, investigated institutional factors affecting their engagement, and compared their effectiveness against unstructured activities in dementia care.

Specific: This systematic review focused on the investigation of the impact of structured physical activities engagement on the progression of dementia among institutionalized older adults.

Methodology: This systematic review employed predefined criteria to identify relevant Randomized Control Trials focusing on structured Physical activity interventions in institutionalized older adults who have dementia. Initially, 3,194 studies were retrieved from a social network service and electronic databases of which 291 duplicates were removed. After screening titles and abstracts, 2,619 articles were excluded, leaving 284 for full-text review. Of these, 277 were further excluded on several grounds, resulting in the inclusion of 7 studies. Four studies were later excluded, leaving a final selection of three studies for analysis. Quality assessment tools were used to evaluate methodological rigor, followed by data extraction, cleaning, and synthesis of findings. functionality and reduce depressive symptoms of dementia, while unstructured activities correlated with no effects on functionality, depression, cognition, and apathy.

Conclusions: Dementia involves a notable decline in cognitive functioning, affecting executive function (i.e., working memory, cognitive flexibility, and self-control), attention, language, memory, and social cognition in older adults. This decline worsens gradually, hindering daily activities. Common behavioral symptoms include emotional instability, irritability, apathy, and social inappropriateness. Non-pharmacological interventions like structured physical activity or multicomponent exercises can alleviate dementia's impact on institutionalized older adults, mainly by improving physical function and depressive outcomes, as well as preserving cognitive functioning. However, unstructured activities have no effects on these aspects.

First Advisor

Daisy H. Alberto, RN, MAN, PhD

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