This systematic review investigates the effect of intervention strategies on spatial orientation in adults with dementia or Alzheimer's disesase.
Not stated
Through 2012
Quantiative study designs with statistical data (not further specified)
8
<div>All of the studies, including both restorative and compensatory techniques, reported positive or mixed results on spatial orientation ability in people with dementia. Research evidence was summarized for several intervention techniques as follows:</div>
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<li><span style="line-height: 1.5;">External spatial cues and assistive technology programs improved participants' accuracy in locating target destinations. </span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5;">Reality orientation combined with spatial cues produced mixed treatment results. </span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5;">Backward chaining produced positive outcomes in one study and mixed results in a second study.</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 1.5;">Errorless learning techniques yielded significant improvements in participants' navigation accuracy. </span></li>
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<div><span style="line-height: 1.5;">"The best results were obtained with compensatory strategies, in particular with [assistive technology] programs... Restorative strategies, by contrast, showed partial results, especially at follow-up measurements. Studies using these strategies suggested that cognitive training programs may have only a modest impact on way-finding skills, slightly improving spatial and topographical memory functions in the short-term period" (p. 206).</span></div>
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