By: Dr. William Mansbach

There is ample evidence that social distancing can dramatically and negatively impact cognition and physical health in people with dementia. This should not be surprising, as pre-pandemic studies have demonstrated that older adults with dementia who are isolated or distanced from family and friends have higher morbidity and mortality risks than peers who have more frequent contact with members in their social networks.

Of course, given the exceptionally high risk of COVID-19 infection mortality for older adults, especially residents in nursing homes and senior living communities, social distancing policies and procedures are critically important. What is increasingly clear, however, is that few evidence-based programs have been developed that mitigate the negative consequences of social distancing. During the pandemic, care facilities have gotten better at instituting social distancing as a central safety precaution; yet, introducing engagement opportunities to help residents deal with isolation from peers, family, friends, and even staff, is lacking. It is also true that family members of residents also suffer from social distancing from their vulnerable loved ones, and they too need engagement opportunities. We are rapidly approaching the holiday season where the negative impact of distancing will be even greater.

Please keep in mind:

• Social distancing without simultaneous engagement activities can only be sustained for a short period before declines in cognition and health emerge.

• Not all engagement activities are alike, and most are not effective in a virtual or remote format.

• Engagement activities are only effective if they truly meaningfully engage the resident.

In order to balance safety with engagement, especially for people with dementia, it is critical that engagement activities are offered to older adults most at risk. Moreover, engagement activities must be available through virtual formats (audio and audio-visual) when in-person visits are not possible. Arguably the best science supporting engagement activities that can be done virtually has been done with the MemPics® meaningful engagement book series. MemPics® can be done through cell phones, Skype, Zoom, and most virtual platforms.

Want to know how to use MemPics® virtually? Watch this short video where we illustrate one method for doing so.

To order MemPics®, visit the ENRICH® our Memory Store or Amazon Online.