Project Profile
| Title: | Management of Acute Distress with Rocking Chair Therapy (NYS Department of Health; Friendly Home) |
| Status: | Complete |
| Principal Investigators: | Nancy M. Watson, PhD, RN; Thelma Wells, PhD, RN, FAAN |
| Description: | This research evaluated a method for improving the psychological well being of nursing home residents with severely progressed dementia. The study suggested that the mild exercise of rocking may release endorphins and improve mood as well as reduce pain. After determining that rocking in platform rocking chairs produced a soothing effect, instructional materials were produced and are used by a large number of care providers in a variety of settings across the country and around the world to improve the well being of persons with dementia. In recent related work, Watson’s study of catastrophic reactions among persons with dementia revealed that mid-stage dementia may be the phase of the disease that is most likely to produce acute episodes of agitation and emotional distress. This finding suggested to the researchers that these reactions may be due to the fact that people in this middle stage may still have some awareness of their cognitive losses, but are less able to compensate for them. Consequently, this results in a sense of sorrow, anger and frustration that may be manifested in the form of these severe emotionally agitated states. |