Allan, M. (2018). Community music therapy to support the relationship between family carers and people living with dementia: A pilot project. New Zealand Journal of Music Therapy, 16, 31.
Type:
Research article
Description:
The purpose of this project was to look at whether weekly community-based group music therapy sessions would support the relationship needs of couples, where one is affected by the onset of dementia and the other has become the carer.
Keywords:
music, activity, engagement, community
Link
Baker, A., Rimkeit, B. S., & Claridge, G. (2018). Promoting dementia-friendly libraries: Setting up book groups to encourage reading and community inclusiveness for people living with dementia. New Zealand Library & Information Management Journal, 57(1).
Type:
Research article
Description:
This discussion paper outlines the experience of one community in New Zealand, Nelson, in setting up and running a dementia-friendly book group in the public library, and describes the benefits and limitations of this project. A particular set of adapted classical texts was used for these book groups.
Keywords:
reading, libraries, activity, engagement, community
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Bone, C., Cheung, G., & Wade, B. (2010). Evaluating person-centred care and Dementia Care Mapping in a psychogeriatric hospital in New Zealand: a pilot study. New Zealand Journal of Occupational Therapy, 57(1), 35-40.
Type:
Research article
Description:
This pilot study used Dementia Care Mapping (DCM) in a long term psychogeriatric hospital in New Zealand. The findings suggest that occupational and psychosocial intervention can improve the quality of care provision and thus the well-being of people living with dementia.
Keywords:
DCM, dementia care mapping, care, psychosocial, occupation
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Broadbent, E., Kerse, N., Peri, K., Robinson, H., Jayawardena, C., Kuo, T., ... & Amor, M. (2016). Benefits and problems of health‐care robots in aged care settings: A comparison trial. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 35(1), 23-29.
Type:
Research article
Description:
Fifty‐three residents and 53 staff participated in a non‐randomised controlled trial. Six robots provided entertainment, communication and health‐monitoring functions in staff rooms and activity lounges. These settings were compared to control settings without robots. The robots had no major benefits or problems.
Keywords:
aged care, depression, quality of life, residents, robot, staff
Link
Campbell, D., Gee, S., & Seabridge, B. (2018). Something for everyone. Australian Journal of Dementia Care, 7(3), 19-21.
Type:
Research article, practice innovation, case study
Description:
In New Zealand’s South Island, Dementia Canterbury has trialled an alternative respite service model that provides a broad range of community-based activity groups to help people living with dementia enjoy meaningful activities in normal social settings, while also helping to support care partners.
Keywords:
activity, engagement, community, respite
Link
Cheung, G. & Peri, K. (2020) Challenges to dementia care during COVID-19: Innovations in remote delivery of group Cognitive Stimulation Therapy, Aging & Mental Health, DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2020.1789945
Type:
Editorial
Description:
This paper reports virtual Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (vCST) as a case example of how technology was used to deliver a group intervention for people with dementia during COVID-19.
Keywords:
CST, Cognitive Stimulation Therapy, telehealth
Link
Cheung, G., & Peri, K. (2017). New Zealand. In L. A. Yates, J. Yates,  M. Orrell, , A. Spector, A., & B. Woods (Eds.). (2017). Cognitive stimulation therapy for dementia: History, evolution and internationalism. New York, NY, US: Routledge. 
Type:
Book chapter
Description:
An overview of the authors work on cognitive stimulation therapy in New Zealand, including a stock take, pilot and training of facilitators.
Keywords:
Cognitive Stimulation Therapy, CST
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Choo, T., Barak, Y., & East, A. (2019). The effects of intuitive movement reembodiment on the quality of life of older adults with dementia: A pilot study. American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease & Other Dementias
Type:
Research article
Description:
This study explored the effects of the intuitive movement reembodiment program on the quality of life of older New Zealand adults with dementia. Statistically significant improvement in quality of life was demonstrated.
Keywords:
dementia, music, dance, movement, embodiment, intuition, creative, quality of life
Link
Engstrom, E., Mudford, O. C., & Brand, D. (2015). Replication and extension of a check‐in procedure to increase activity engagement among people with severe dementia. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 48(2), 460-465.
Type:
Research article
Description:
A procedure to ensure that staff checked in with older residents in a nursing home and offered activity choices was introduced. Among 5 residents (aged 77 to 83 years) with severe dementia activity engagement increased for 3 participants, with modest improvement for 1 other participant. The 4 responders all engaged in a wider variety of activities during intervention.
Keywords:
severe dementia, applied behaviour analysis, engagement, activity
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Gee, S. and Dementia Canterbury (2018). “I feel alive” An evaluation of Dementia Canterbury’s community-based activity respite programme. Christchurch, NZ: Dementia Canterbury. 
Type:
Research report
Description:
To provide respite and meaningful activities for people living with dementia, Dementia Canterbury piloted a programme of activities to help people living with dementia, in collaboration with local existing community services. The aim for the person living with dementia is to provide an engaging an enjoyable activity ‘in the moment’, and though the provision of these opportunities on a regular basis to improve their overall well-being. The aim for the care-partner is to reduce the stress associated with their caring role and improve quality of life. This evaluation project was initiated to enable Dementia Canterbury to document evidence of these outcomes. It also aims to provide insights to guide the development and improvements of the programme into the future. 
Keywords:
activity, engagement, community, groups, respite
Link
Hensman, M., Mudford, O. C., Dorrestein, M., & Brand, D. (2015). Behavioral evaluation of sensory-based activities in dementia care. European Journal of Behavior Analysis, 16(2), 295-311.
Type:
Research article
Description:
This study evaluated the behavioural effects of an occupational therapy program of individualized sensory-based activities (SBAs), in which activities were selected based on individuals’ sensory abilities and preferences. Six participants with severe cognitive impairment (aged 68–90 years) were selected by the staff of a residential dementia facility. The results indicate that the use of SBA had immediate effects during the activity, but limited short-term aftereffects.
Keywords:
sensory-based activities, activity, engagement, preference, dementia, behavioural measurement, applied behaviour analysis
Link
Jones, V. A. (2016). A review of the research literature for the use of music and music therapy in the setting of dementia and how this informs an approach to service delivery by Music Moves Me Trust. New Zealand Journal of Music Therapy, 14, 162.
Type:
Review
Description:
Music Moves Me Trust was established in the Waikato region of New Zealand in 2015, and has developed a music programme for people living with dementia in aged-residential care facilities. This article aims to lend support to the argument for the availability of a non-pharmacological approach to BPSD. It will also review the current literature around each aspect of our music programme and look to examine future directions for research.
Keywords:
music, activity, engagement
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Law, M., Sutherland, C., Ahn, H. S., MacDonald, B. A., Peri, K., Johanson, D. L., ... & Broadbent, E. (2019). Developing assistive robots for people with mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia: a qualitative study with older adults and experts in aged care. BMJ open, 9(9), e031937.
Type:
Research article
Description:
Two studies were conducted. In the first study, participants watched videos of a prototype robot performing daily-care activities; in the second study, participants interacted with the robot itself. The themes that emerged included aspects of the robot’s interactions, potential benefits, the appearance, actions and humanness of the robot, ways to improve its functionality and technical issues.
Keywords:
robot, psychosocial intervention, dementia, aged residential care
Link
Liang, A., Piroth, I., Robinson, H., MacDonald, B., Fisher, M., Nater, U. M., ... & Broadbent, E. (2017). A pilot randomized trial of a companion robot for people with dementia living in the community. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 18(10), 871-878.
Type:
Research article
Description:
To investigate the effects of the companion robot Paro for people with dementia in two Auckland day care centres and in home settings a block randomized controlled trial was conducted. Observations showed that Paro significantly improved facial expressions (affect) and communication with staff (social interaction) at the day care centers. Subanalyses showed that care recipients with less cognitive impairment responded significantly better to Paro.
Keywords:
companion robot, Paro, psychosocial intervention, dementia, home setting
Link
Liu, Q., Jones, M., & Hocking, C. (2020). Describing and measuring the ‘switch-on’effect in people with dementia who participate in cognitive stimulation therapy: A mixed methods study. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 83(5), 316-325.
Type:
Research article
Description:
Cognitive stimulation therapy is an evidence-based group intervention for promoting cognition and quality of life in people with dementia. This New Zealand study aimed to describe and measure the ‘switch-on’ effect, a recently reported benefit involving enhanced participation.
Keywords:
Cognitive Stimulation Therapy; CST
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Locke, J. M., & Mudford, O. C. (2010). Using music to decrease disruptive vocalizations in a man with dementia. Behavioral Interventions, 25(3), 253-260.
Type:
Research article
Description:
Music played through headphones was noted to reduce the disruptive chanting and speech‐like vocalizations of a 68‐year‐old man who lived in a secure dementia unit. The data suggest that music provided an alternative source of auditory stimulation.
Keywords:
applied behaviour analysis, music
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McGuigan, K. A., Legget, J. A., & Horsburgh, M. (2015). Visiting the museum together: Evaluating a programme at Auckland Museum for people living with dementia and their carers. Arts & Health, 7(3), 261-270.
Type:
Research article
Description:
This report discusses the development, delivery and evaluation of a six-week programme for people living with dementia and their carers at Auckland Museum in 2014. The programme, delivered by specialist volunteers, was evaluated through observation, focus groups and interviews. Overall, the programme expanded the community opportunities available for people with dementia and their carers, and was considered a success in terms of socialization and through providing a positive and shared experience.
Keywords:
dementia, shared experiences, museums, volunteers, activity, community
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Moebs, I., Gee, S., Miyahara, M., Paton, H., & Croucher, M. (2017). Perceptions of a cognitive rehabilitation group by older people living with cognitive impairment and their caregivers: a qualitative interview study. Dementia, 16(4), 513-522.
Type:
Research article
Description:
This New Zealand study aimed to understand the experience of people living with cognitive impairment, as well as their caregivers who took part in a cognitive rehabilitation intervention programme The participants living with cognitive impairment emphasised the benefits of relational and practical aspects, whereas the caregivers valued the informational and emotional support. Both participants living with cognitive impairment and caregivers found the cognitive rehabilitation group useful.
Keywords:
cognitive rehabilitation, group, dementia, cognitive impairment, family caregivers, qualitative research
Link
Orrell, M., Dening, T., Husain, N., Rimkeit, S., Claridge, G., & Sim, D. (2019). Reading for Dementia. In Reading and Mental Health (pp. 395-418). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
Type:
Book chapter
Description:
In the last part of this chapter, three researchers working on a reading and dementia programme in New Zealand outline their three-stage programme (feasibility, pilot, RCT) for a robust study which can help to mainstream reading in old age care.
Keywords:
activity, reading, engagement, aged residential care
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Robinson, H., Broadbent, E., & MacDonald, B. (2016). Group sessions with Paro in a nursing home: Structure, observations and interviews. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 35(2), 106-112.
Type:
Book chapter
Description:
The authors previously reported that a companion robot reduced residents' loneliness in a randomised controlled trial at an aged‐care facility. This report aims to provide additional, previously unpublished data about how the sessions were run, residents' interactions with the robot and staff perspectives. This study supports other research showing Paro has psychosocial benefits and provides a guide for those wishing to use Paro in a group setting in aged care.
Keywords:
Robotics, Paro, dementia, human-robot interaction
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Robinson, H., MacDonald, B. A., Kerse, N., & Broadbent, E. (2013). Suitability of healthcare robots for a dementia unit and suggested improvements. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 14(1), 34-40.
Type:
Research article
Description:
This study compared responses to two robots to investigate the suitability of a new eldercare robot (Guide) for people with dementia and their caregivers compared with one that has been successfully used before (Paro), and to generate suggestions for improved robot enhanced dementia care.
Keywords:
Robotics, paro, dementia, human-robot interaction
Link
Talmage, A., Purdy, S., Rakena, T.O., and Rickson, D (2020). “Choir online is better than no choir at all!” The responses of adults with neurological conditions to an E-Choir initiative during Covid-19 lockdown in New Zealand. BECM conference 
Type:
Conference audio presentation and poster
Description:
The CeleBRation Choir is a community singing group for adults (predominantly 65+) with a variety of communication difficulties resulting from an acquired neurological condition, such as stroke, Parkinson’s disease or dementia, and partners / carers. The e-choir project is a response to enforced self-isolation and social distancing due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This poster outlines how the existing choir approach has been adapted for the online environment, highlighting the emerging vital themes, such as song choice, familiar and new experiences, interaction, humour and creativity. Reflections from participants and song lyrics reveal collective and individual emotional responses to this unanticipated e-choir experience.
Keywords:
music therapy, singing, research, community
Link
Gee S., Hawkes T. (2021). Supporting meaningful activity in hospital. 10. 20-22.
Type:
Research article
Description:
Susan Gee and Tracey Hawkes report on a project to support staff to offer meaningful activities for older patients during their admission to hospital, especially those living with dementia
Keywords:
activity, engagement, hospital, older people, health care staff
Link