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NATIONAL
INSTITUTE FOR DEMENTIA EDUCATION February 1, 2022, Orlando, FL -- The National Institute for Dementia Education (NIDE) announced today results from the “Cognitive Benefits of Photo Reminiscence Therapy for Dementia Patients” research study that concluded that Photo Reminiscence Therapy can improve the quality of life for those living with dementia or related forms of memory impairment. Conducted by a coalition of organizations, including the National Institute for Dementia Education, the CERTUS Institute, Vivid-Pix, Tellegacy, and achi, the group studied the healing power of photos and concluded that Photo Reminiscence Therapy (pRT) can minimize social isolation and improve medication compliance and general cognitive performance. The complete pRT study is available at: https://nid.education/nide-publications.html. Videos about the study are available at: https://www.vivid-pix.com/reminisce/. Over 8.8 Million Americans Currently Have Dementia Over 8.8 million Americans are currently living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. This number is expected to triple within the next few decades. In addition, Alzheimer's disease is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, with one in three seniors dying from Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. Experts have been using Reminiscence Therapy for years to help Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia and depression. As reported by Shirley Wang, NPR, “Researchers find that dementia patients who engage in activities, such as gathering photographs and talking about family, see improvements in their quality of life and are less agitated.” Researchgate also reported that Reminiscence Therapy is an effective way to increase self-esteem and decrease behavioral disturbances in those with dementia, and their research proved that photography was the best therapy. “We concluded that the power of engaging with personal photos, matched with a high-quality care curriculum and living environment, may improve the quality of life for those with dementia by stimulating the brain and fostering neurogenesis as well as neuroplasticity. This may improve quality of life and, in some cases, temporarily diminish dementia symptoms during therapeutic sessions,” said Joshua Freitas, PhD(c), M.Ed., BC-DEd, Chief Research Officer, CERTUS Institute. How pRT Research was Conducted The Photo Reminiscence Therapy research study identified photos that foster reminiscence and looked at the behavioral and somatic responses of older adults in senior living care through pRT. The study was conducted in 2021 in three five-week phases comparing the influences of viewing different types of photos at four CERTUS Senior Living communities in Florida. CERTUS oversaw the care and clinical assessment, with participants ranging in age from 67 to 92 years, who were living with a diagnosis of dementia or memory impairment and had diverse work backgrounds, from engineers to stay-at-home mothers. The study employed the Tellegacy/achi program, which uses social prompts that foster human connection through focused questions as part of an evidence-based curriculum. The Effects of Different Photos The pilot group studied the effects between viewing generic stock photos, personal photos, or no photos. Photo types included family, self-portraits, pets, landmarks, newspaper articles, nature, and abstract themes. Aged or faded personal photos were enhanced using Vivid-Pix technology to digitally enhance and restore images, improving color, contrast, clarity, and overall quality. This allowed photos to be more recognizable and relatable. Vivid-Pix’s knowledge of how people emotionally connect and interact with photos was also essential to the research. “This study highlights the emotional, mental, and physical health benefits that looking at photos provide to the young and young-at-heart alike,” said Rick Voight, CEO of Vivid-Pix. The pilot study was led by Joshua Freitas, Chief Research Officer at CERTUS and an award-winning expert, researcher, and author on memory care, Dr. Jeremy Holloway, Founder, Tellegacy and Professor and Director of Geriatrics Education at University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Rick Voight, CEO, Vivid-Pix, photo researcher, and Hayley Studer, CPA, FHFMA, Founder of achi, a holistic care management company. “Our findings were robust, insightful, and beneficial for participants,” said Dr. Jeremy Holloway, Tellegacy. “Through engagement with personal photos, pRT can help patients with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia and provide healthy neurological and action-based benefits to those with dementia, especially in supportive care environments.” “As a percentage of population, individuals over age 65 will double by 2050. How we care for our aging is of social and economic importance,” describes Hayley Studer, achi. “As a bright light shines on how the social determinants of health are affecting communities, many want to take action to create healthier communities and reduce overall healthcare costs.” To view the full pRT pilot study, see: https://nid.education/nide-publications.html To view videos about research, see: https://www.vivid-pix.com/reminisce/ About The National Institute for Dementia Education (NIDE) NIDE works to enhance the quality of life for those living with dementia through research, case studies, education, collaboration, and advocacy. NIDE works with senior care facilities, memory care units, hospitals, and universities studying memory disorders to create unique certificate programs that improve the way we care for seniors who have dementia. The NIDE Standards of Excellence Council offers free dementia training and certification for participating students and caregivers. For more information, see: https://www.nid.education/. About Vivid-Pix
Vivid-Pix helps people relive photos and documents by connecting
individuals, families, and friends with their most treasured memories,
restored through Vivid-Pix technology. The U.S.
Patent Office has awarded two patents to Vivid-Pix for its image
processing techniques used to automatically correct faded images. Vivid-Pix
founders brought Kodak’s “You Press the Button, We Do the Rest”
philosophy to the design of Vivid-Pix RESTORE. Vivid-Pix RESTORE is
available at: https://vivid-pix.com/restore/buy.html,
with a free trial at: https://vivid-pix.com/restore/free-trial.html.
For more information about Vivid-Pix, visit: www.vivid-pix.com.
CERTUS Senior Living is a research-based senior living community specifically designed for people living with dementia. The CERTUS Senior Living research division, the CERTUS Institute, works with organizations to create pilot programs, research products’ effectiveness, and help improve the delivery of services following best practices with the mission of making memory care better. CERTUS Senior Living is a leader in memory care research and lifestyle accommodations through their evidence-based approach to memory care, endorsed by the National Institute for Dementia Education, as well as a number of nationally recognized organizations. For more information, see: https://www.certusseniorliving.com/. About Tellegacy Tellegacy is an intergenerational program created to combat loneliness and social isolation among older adults, keeping them connected and engaged through weekly phone or virtual visits with university students. As research shows, loneliness and social isolation can result in long-term negative health outcomes. Tellegacy founder Jeremy Holloway, PhD is determined to change that narrative with his flexible, relationship-oriented, mindfulness, goal-setting and guided imagery curriculum. To learn more about the Tellegacy program and how it can save lives, visit www.tellegacy.com. About achi
achi is a
holistic care management company that lowers overall expenses by
actively engaging people and connecting them to organizations to address
the social determinants of health. Through innovative partnerships,
cross-sector collaboration, and creative solutions, we equip
organizations across multiple industries to educate the people they
serve and connect them with resources to improve their lives from the
ground up. By partnering with health systems, educational institutions
and corporations, achi empowers lasting transformation in individual
lives— resulting in an overall healthier population and data to
transform our healthcare payment models. To learn more about achi and
its mission, visit
www.achi.solutions.
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