Author(s):
We delved into the efficacy of the Reading Buddies Program (RBP), wherein graduate students in occupational therapy engage in book reading sessions with institutionalized persons grappling with dementia. Our focus was on assessing the extent to which residents were engaged during these sessions. Additionally, we scrutinized the impact of various factors, such as interaction dynamics, environmental conditions, attention span, attitude and the nature of activities, on the level of engagement observed. The primary metric utilized was the engagement percentage, calculated as the duration of time spent reading the book divided by the total duration of the resident's active involvement with the material. Our findings corroborated the hypothesis that heightened levels of attention, positive attitude and involvement in activities correlated positively with increased engagement. Surprisingly, environmental factors yielded no significant influence on the engagement levels observed. Overall, our study revealed a remarkably high level of engagement among residents with dementia during reading sessions, indicating a potential avenue for mitigating negative symptoms associated with the condition. These findings underscore the importance of tailored interventions aimed at fostering meaningful engagement among individuals grappling with dementia in institutional settings.
