Evaluation of the Smell and Tell™ Game in Dementia (Version 1)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Wellbeing and Cognition in People Living with Dementia: A Mixed Methods Evaluation of the Smell and Tell™ Game
IRAS ID
343682
Contact name
Lucy Roberts-West
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Surrey
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 28 days
Research summary
Summary of Research
People living with dementia and their carer's have requested research to develop psychosocial interventions which enhance wellbeing and social participation. Sensory stimulation has been used to support behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia and is recommended by NICE guidelines. The benefits of olfactory interventions have been relatively little explored compared to other sensory modalities, despite smell having an important relationship with emotion and memory processing in the brain. The Smell and Tell™ game is a smell and memory-based board game designed to support wellbeing in older adults, and may act as a useful intervention for people with dementia. The present study aims to (1) evaluate the impact of the Smell and Tell™ game on wellbeing and cognition in care home residents living with dementia and (2) evaluate the experience and potential therapeutic use of the game. The current study will use different research methods to evaluate the game including interviews, observations and questionnaires. The game will be facilitated by care home staff in weekly sessions and played by care home residents living with dementia in a 5-session intervention programme. Residents will complete measures of wellbeing and cognition before and following the 5-week intervention. Participants will also be observed during sessions to assess elements of wellbeing. Following each session, participants will give brief feedback in an interview. Following the 5-week intervention, both residents and care home staff will have more in-depth interview to give their perspectives on the experience and therapeutic use of the game. Findings will give important insights into how olfactory based interventions may support wellbeing and cognition in people living with dementia and how they may be implemented into care.
Summary of Results
Guidelines recommend using sensory interventions which stimulate one or more of the five senses, to support people living with dementia. Yet, there is very little research exploring the impact of smell-based activities. The current research looked at the experiences and perspectives of six participants including three care home residents with dementia and three of their carers using a smell-based board game, Smell & Tell™. Smell & Tell™ is a board game designed for older adults which involves smelling scented wax tins and guessing their scent with the aim of initiating conversations, memory and pleasure for those taking part. The study also explored whether the activity impacted resident’s wellbeing or cognition. Wellbeing refers to how well a person feels in themselves including their mood, comfort and ability to enjoy and take part in everyday life, and cognition refers to thinking and memory skills. Three residents with dementia at a care home and three of their staff played Smell & Tell™ weekly for five weeks in a group, guessing scents, engaging in conversations and sharing memories. Before and after the activity, residents completed wellbeing questionnaires and a cognitive test. During each session, researchers observed residents to assess their wellbeing and spoke with residents to get their feedback on Smell & Tell™. Once the programme was finished, both residents and staff were interviewed by researchers to discuss their experiences and views of the game in more detail. Analysing themes in the interview data supported benefits on wellbeing; residents and staff reported that the game was enjoyable, encouraged social connection and discussion of memories. Both staff and residents felt those with good verbal communication skills would benefit from the game, and staff thought it could be easily implemented in care. Improved scores on the wellbeing questionnaire and observational data also suggest Smell & Tell™ supported resident’s wellbeing. Two residents had slight declines in their cognitive test score, but no conclusions could be drawn regarding the effects on cognition because of the small sample size and study limitations. These findings provide initial evidence that smell-based activities are engaging and enjoyable for care home residents with dementia. Further research is essential to understand any therapeutic impacts and experiences in a larger sample to inform future guidance.
REC name
Social Care REC
REC reference
24/IEC08/0029
Date of REC Opinion
3 Dec 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion