Park Visit Program for Dementia

Overseen By Dallas P Seitz, MD, PhD

Age: 65+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Calgary

Disqualifiers: Unstable conditions, Long-term care, Limited mobility, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 4

20 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

The overall goals of our project is to understand the effects of participating in park visits and nature-based activities for people living with dementia and their caregivers. Nature-based activities such as park visits can have beneficial effects on quality of life, psychological symptoms and physical health. However, there may be barriers for people with dementia and their caregivers that may prevent them from engaging in park visits. The Nature Connections park visit program will provide education sessions for 10 persons living with dementia and 10 caregivers highlighting the beneficial effects of park visits and address common barriers to participating in park visits. Following the education session participants will be provided with weekly telephone/internet support meetings for participants to share their experiences with park visits and to address any challenges individuals encountered when trying to complete their visits. The impact of park visits on quality of life, behaviours, and measures of stress for people with dementia and their caregivers will be assessed over 8 weeks. Following completion of the program participants will provide an evaluation of the program to understand their experience and satisfaction with the program. This project will provide new information about the effects of park visits as a practical strategy to improve the quality of life, psychological symptoms and measures of stress for both people with dementia and caregivers.

Research Team

Dallas P Seitz, MD, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Calgary

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for people aged 65+ with mild to moderate dementia due to Alzheimer's, scoring 12-25 on the MoCA test. They should engage in less than 2 hours of outdoor activities weekly and have a caregiver who spends at least 2 hours per week with them. Participants must be mobile (with or without help) and able to visit local parks.

Inclusion Criteria

I am 65 years old or older.

Participants who currently participate in less than 2 hours of outdoor activities weekly using the Community Healthy Activities Model Program for Seniors (CHAMPS) questionnaire

I spend 2 or more hours weekly caring for someone with dementia.

Exclusion Criteria

Patients residing in long-term care or nursing homes

Participants who do not have adequate comprehension and verbal communication in English necessary to participate in measurement of outcomes.

I cannot do outdoor activities due to unstable health conditions.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

1 visit (in-person)

Education Session

Participants attend an education session highlighting the benefits of park visits and addressing common barriers.

1 week

1 visit (in-person)

Nature Connections Intervention

Participants engage in an 8-week park visit program with weekly telephone/internet support meetings.

8 weeks

Weekly virtual meetings

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in cognitive function, mood, behaviors, quality of life, and stress levels.

4 weeks

2 visits (in-person)

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Nature Connections Intervention

Trial Overview The study tests a 'Nature Connections' program involving park visits and nature-based activities for those with dementia and their caregivers. It includes education sessions, support meetings, and evaluates the impact on quality of life, behavior, stress over an 8-week period.

Participant Groups

Group I: Nature Connections Group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will be screened to confirm their eligibility to partake in the study. Participants who meet the study criteria will then be invited to participate in the nature connections intervention. At the start of the intervention, mid-intervention and post intervention, participants will be invited to participate in assessments of their behaviour and mood symptoms, cognition, quality of life, caregiver burden and stress levels using different measures and questionnaires at the University of Calgary. Participants will be provided with a visit passport to record a log of activities completed during the park visits.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Calgary

Lead Sponsor

Trials

827

Recruited

902,000+

Alzheimer's Association

Collaborator

Trials

103

Recruited

44,300+