03 February 2022
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A research study that concluded Photo Reminiscence Therapy can improve the quality of life for those living with dementia has been recognised by the National Institute for Dementia Education.
Conducted by a coalition of US organisations, including the National Institute for Dementia Education, the CERTUS Institute, Vivid-Pix, Tellegacy, and achi, the group studied the healing power of photos and concluded that Photo Reminiscence Therapy (pRT) can:
- minimise social isolation
- improve medication compliance and general cognitive performance
How the Photo Reminiscence Therapy research was conducted
The Photo Reminiscence Therapy research study identified photos that foster reminiscence and looked at the behavioral and somatic responses of older adults in senior living care through pRT. The study was conducted in 2021 in three five-week phases comparing the influences of viewing different types of photos at four CERTUS Senior Living communities in Florida.
CERTUS oversaw the care and clinical assessment, with participants ranging in age from 67 to 92 years, who were living with a diagnosis of dementia or memory impairment and had diverse work backgrounds, from engineers to stay-at-home mothers. The study employed the Tellegacy/achi program, which uses social prompts that foster human connection through focused questions as part of an evidence-based curriculum.
The effects of different photos
The pilot group studied the effects between viewing generic stock photos, personal photos, or no photos. Photo types includedL
- family
- self-portraits
- pets
- landmarks
- newspaper articles
- nature
- abstract themes
Aged or faded personal photos were enhanced using Vivid-Pix technology to digitally enhance and restore images, improving colour, contrast, clarity, and overall quality. This allowed photos to be more recognisable and relatable.
Vivid-Pix’s knowledge of how people emotionally connect and interact with photos was also essential to the research. “This study highlights the emotional, mental, and physical health benefits that looking at photos provide to the young and young-at-heart alike,” said Rick Voight, CEO of Vivid-Pix.
Watch videos of the study at the Vivid-Pix website and read the dementia research report here.