The effects of emotion-oriented approaches in the care for persons suffering from dementia: a review of the literature

This article presents an overview of the results of intervention studies in various emotion‐oriented approaches in the care for people suffering from dementia.

Abstract

Despite the limited cogency of the studies we traced, the results are promising. Emotion-oriented care approaches offer the opportunity to tailor the care to the individual needs of dementing elderly and can be complemented with other psychosocial approaches (e.g. psychomotor therapy and music therapy) when necessary. The challenge for the care sector is to develop guidelines to determine which approach should be applied to whom and when. Scientific research can contribute by examining which emotion-oriented approaches, possibly in combination with each other or with psychosocial therapies, effect an increase in the well-being and improve functioning in which patients.