Ecotherapy and Quality of Life in Dementia- A Pilot Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Does Ecotherapy improve the Quality of Life for clients with a diagnosis of Dementia?- A Pilot Study
IRAS ID
171795
Contact name
Andrew Waterhouse
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
West London Mental Health Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 27 days
Research summary
The advancement of quality of life for people with a diagnosis of dementia is widely accepted as an important outcome in dementia care (Department of Health 2013). Such policies encourage practitioners to develop psychosocial interventions (Moniz-Cook and Manthorpe 2008) that enable individuals with dementia to maintain a meaningful and hopeful life. Ecotherapy aims to stimulate memory and increase concentration, improve overall mental and physical wellbeing and to reduce stress. Other aims include the reconnection of dementia client’s relationship with nature. It also aims to encourage Mindfulness as a vehicle for the self-management of mental health, and to facilitate collective learning, peer-support and reduce the sense of social exclusion. This pilot study aims to evaluate any changes in quality of life ratings experienced by patients with dementia who are participating an experimental 8 week Ecotherapy group compared to a control group receiving treatment as usual.
REC name
London - Stanmore Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/0759
Date of REC Opinion
2 Jun 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion