The Impact of a Life Story Intervention on Depressive Symptoms of Long-Term Care Residents with Dementia

TL;DR

A life story intervention using technology reduced depressive symptoms in nursing home residents with dementia.

Contribution

A scalable technological adaptation of a life story intervention was developed and tested for reducing depression in dementia patients.

Findings

The original LifeBio intervention significantly reduced depressive symptoms in 238 residents.

The tablet-based LifeBio Memory™ also showed significant reductions in depressive symptoms in 107 residents.

Abstract

Reminiscence therapies have been shown to positively impact cognition, mood, and other behavioral and psychological symptoms in persons living with dementia (PLWD). LifeBio, a life story intervention, has shown promise in reducing depressive symptoms in nursing home residents with dementia. To address the paucity of scalable life story interventions, a technological adaptation of LifeBio was conducted. LifeBio Memory™, utilizes text-to-speech technology to record resident interviews; machine learning and artificial intelligence enabled production of life story products, such story books, one-page resident bios, and care plans for staff to connect with residents during social or care-based interactions. This paper describes two quasi-experimental, pre–post studies conducted three years apart, testing each version of LifeBio: the first (n = 238) utilized the original, rudimentary protocol and the second (n = 107), used the tablet-based LifeBio Memory™. Both studies demonstrated reductions in depressive symptomology. Study 1, conducted in 16 Ohio nursing homes, showed a significant decrease from baseline (M = 5.59, SD = 5.10) to follow-up (M = 4.71, SD = 5.46); t(168) = 2.46, p = 0.015, using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8). Study 2, conducted in 11 distinct Ohio nursing homes, also showed a significant decrease from baseline (M = 11.23, SD 8.56) to follow-up (M = 9.87, SD = 8.04); t(106) = 1.99, p = 0.024 using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Future research plans to evaluate LifeBio Memory™ in randomized trials, identify mechanisms of reducing depression, and assess cost-effectiveness to inform integration into routine dementia care.