Addressing loneliness among people living with dementia: The key features of personal contact interventions

Background Interventions to address loneliness among older adults have been developed which target modifiable influencing factors of social contact, social participation, and social support. However, few interventions have been designed specifically to address loneliness for use with people living with dementia. The purpose of this mixed methods study was to identify key features of personal contact interventions for use with people living with dementia. Method This was a mixed methods (concurrent triangulation) design using a convenience sample of family, friends, and health care providers of people living with dementia (n = 25). In face‐to‐face sessions, participants were read a short description of two personal contact interventions: an animal contact and a human contact intervention. They completed questionnaires to rate acceptability (adapted Treatment Perception and Preference measure), followed by semi‐structured interviews to explore their perspectives in‐depth. Descriptive statistics and conventional content analysis were completed, and themes from the qualitative analysis were emphasized in the interpretation of results. Result A majority (>80%) of participants rated personal contact interventions, with either a human or animal visitor, as being low risk, effective, logical and suitable to address loneliness among people living with dementia. While some form of human contact was viewed as essential for every person living with dementia, appropriateness of animal contact was seen as dependent on the individual characteristics of the person living with dementia. In addition to preventing loneliness, participants highlighted that the benefits of personal contact could include promoting happiness and comfort, offering something to do, and preventing responsive behaviors. For all personal contact interventions with a human or animal, it was important to prepare the contact, focus on meaningful relationships, consider flexible program delivery options, and ensure high quality facilitation of visits. Conclusion Personal contact with a human or animal shows promise to address loneliness experienced by people living with dementia when it is facilitated, flexible, and carefully designed to promote meaningful interactions. Future feasibility studies are needed to assess how people living with dementia experience and perceive personal contact interventions.