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
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.
REC name
Social Care REC
REC reference
24/IEC08/0029
Date of REC Opinion
3 Dec 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion