CONNECTIONS is an evidence-based, one-on-one activity intervention designed to help persons with dementia engage in meaningful activities. It focuses on building trust, understanding leisure interests based on strengths and abilities, and adapting activities to current cognitive and physical functioning. Structuring personalized activity stations provides stimulation and prevents issues like boredom, frustration, and behaviors. Benefits include improved mood, engagement, well-being and decreased medication use.

1. CONNECTIONS: ACTIVITY ENGAGEMENT FOR PERSONS
DIAGNOSED WITH DEMENTIA
Ellen Phipps, CTRS, MSG
Alzheimer’s Association, CWVA; VCU
Governor’s Conference on Aging 2016

2. CONNECTIONS IS:
A one-on-one, personalized activity
intervention designed to create an
“activity station” to help persons with
dementia self-initiate engagement in a
meaningful activity.

3. CONNECTIONS IS EVIDENCED BASED
● Initial seed funding through a grant from UVA
● Funding from ARDRAF research award: 32 of 34
(94%) persons with dementia engaged in activity when
structured by the investigators, student visitors, and/or
caregivers. Caregivers reported increased confidence in
structuring activities in the home. Published in the
Journal of Therapeutic Recreation.
● AoA Grant for home-visitation program to rural areas
● Best practice award – National Caregivers Alliance

4. BENEFITS
● Prevent frustration
● Prevent boredom and challenging behaviors
● Provide mental stimulation
● Improve physical activity and general health
● Promote social interaction which will reduce
feelings of loneliness, isolation and depression
● Improve sleep habits
● Improve self esteem
● Provide enjoyment!!!

5. THERAPEUTIC OUTCOMES of MEANINGFUL
ACTIVITY
○ Reduces falls and injuries related to falls
○ Reduces disturbing behaviors exhibited by
individuals with dementia which leads to decreased
use of psychotropic medications and chemical
restraints
○ Decreases the symptoms of Depression and Anxiety
○ Decreases apathy/Increases engagement
○ Improves subjective well-being and quality of life

6. PRACTICE FIELDS: RECREATION THERAPY
● Recreation therapy – a process that utilizes activity-based interventions
based on the assessed needs of individuals with illness and/or disabling
conditions. The purpose of the process is to improve or maintain physical,
cognitive, social, emotional and spiritual functioning in order to facilitate full
participation in life
● Montessori - This unique approach builds on current strengths and abilities as
well as environmental modification. Montessori-Based Dementia Programming
uses rehabilitation principles including guided repetition, task breakdown, and
progressing from simple to complex.
● Cognitive Intervention - In dementia care, cognitive intervention approaches
often capitalize on the individual’s cognitive strengths, and care providers may
be trained to provide verbal cues as well as set up environmental modification to
assist persons with cognitive losses

7. Person-Centered Care
● Care is driven by the care recipient and
supported by the care professional.
● Recognizes the individuality of each person
● Honors respect and dignity

8. CORE PRINICPLES OF CONNECTIONS
● Trusting relationship
● Reflects individual preferences
● One-on-One or Self Initiation
● Strength-based
● Control the environment
● It’s about the PROCESS….

9. GETTING STARTED: STEP ONE:
BUILDING TRUST
TOOL: Conversation Starters
○ Where were you born?
○ Family / Spouse
○ School days
○ Childhood
○ Occupation
○ Volunteer Work
○ Social / Cultural

10. STEP TWO: LEISURE INTERESTS
TOOL: Leisure Interest Survey
Domains
!Creative / Expressive
!Intellectual
!Physical
!Productive / Work
!Social / Leisure/ Entertainment
!Spiritual / Insightful

11. STEP THREE: CURRENT LEVEL OF
FUNCTION
● TOOL: Cognitive Check List
● Medical Status
● Mobility
● Vision

12.
FOCUS ON STRENGTHS

13. CONNECTIONS: FOCUS ON STRENGTHS

14. SYMPTOMS AND STRENGTHS CHART
EARLY STAGE

15. SYMPTOMS AND STRENGTHS CHART
MIDDLE STAGE

16. SYMPTOMS AND STRENGTHS CHART
LATE STAGE

17. SUMMARY OF INFORMATION
✓ Personal information about past occupation,
personality and interests
✓ Leisure interests; hobbies
✓ Current level of function with focus on strengths
✓ Other important information about functional ability
– vision, hearing, mobility, etc.

18. IS SHE A MUSICIAN?

19. DAILY CHORES

20. IS SHE A SPORTS FAN?

21. VIEWING ART

22. WHAT WAS HIS PROFESSION?

23. MIDDLE
EXAMPLES THROUGH
THE STAGES

24. MUSIC

25. POLISHING SILVER
SHINING SHOES
25
DAILY CHORES

26. MAKING ART:CREATIVE EXPRESSION

27. DID HE ENJOY FISHING?

28. REMINISCE
28

29. VIEWING ART

30. ADAPTED GAMES

31. ADAPTED GAMES

32. LATER STAGE
EXAMPLES THROUGH THE
STAGES

33. MUSIC

34. DAILY CHORES
Care for the animals
Wipe off the bathroom counter with
spray and cloth

35. CREATIVE EXPRESSION

36. THROUGH THE SENSES

37. Sensory Aprons

38. GOING FOR A WALK

39. DOLL THERAPY

40. QUESTIONS

41. ACTIVITY RESOURCES
● A Different Visit (Joltin, Adena; Camp, Cameron; Noble, Beverely;
Antenucci, Vincent; Menorah Park Center for Senior Living)
● Activity Programming for Persons with Dementia
(Alzheimer’s Association)
● Best Friend’s Book of Alzheimer’s Activities (Bell, Virginia;
Troxel, David; Cox, Tonya; Hamon, Robin; Health Professions Press)
● Doing things (Zgola, Jitka; Johns Hopkins University Press)
● Positive interactions (Nissenboim, Sylvia; Vroman, Christine;
Health Professions Press)
● Reminiscence magazine
● 101 things to do…

42. CONTACT
Ellen Phipps, CTRS, MSG, Gerontologoist
Vice President Programs & Services
Alzheimer's Association Central & Western Virginia
1160 Pepsi Place, Suite 306
Charlottesville, VA 22901
Phone: 434-973-6122 , ext. 103 Fax: 434-973-4224
ellen.phipps@alz.org
www.alz.org/cwva