Maintenance of functional capacity in cognitive stimulation subgroups

To evaluate the improvement of the elderly’sfunctional capacity before intervention in cognitivestimulation workshops, according to subgroups. Methods.Quantitative study, by before and after evaluation,following during one year the cognitive stimulationintervention, conducted according to recommendationsof NIC (Nursing Interventions Classification) Domain 3– Behavior, Class P, Cognitive Therapy “interventions toreinforce or promote desirable behaviors or to changeundesirable behaviors”. Participants were 67 people,with ages between 60 and 88. The criteria for subgroupswere: healthy= memory complaint and Mini Mental StateExam (MMSE) score above or equal to 26 (n = 20); loweducation level = memory complaint and up to 5 yearsof study (n = 11); depression = memory and humorcomplaint, and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) score ≥4 (n = 25); and the control group (n = 11), which did notreceive the intervention, just the conventional treatment.Results. Although statistically significant differences havebeen observed in specific scores at each subgroup: MMSE(greater improvement in healthy elderly); GDS (greaterimprovement in the depression group); and the Wordrecall test (lower at the “low education level” group); it wasnoticed that at all intervention subgroups the functionalcapacity was maintained when compared to the controlgroup. Conclusion. The cognitive stimulation workshopswere useful to the elderly, who received the nursingintervention, the cognitive therapy. It is recommendedadoption of the intervention in specific subgroups,according to their own cognitive limitations. Objetivo. Avaliar a melhora da capacidade funcional do idoso após intervenção em oficinas de estimulação cognitiva, segundo subgrupos. Métodos. Estudo quantitativo, de avaliação tipo antes e depois, seguimento ao longo de um ano, a intervenção da estimulação cognitiva foi realizada segundo a recomendação do NIC (Nursing Interventions Classification) Domínio 3 – Comportamento, Classe P, Terapia Cognitiva “intervenções para reforçar ou promover comportamentos desejáveis, ou alterar comportamentos indesejáveis». Participaram 67 pessoas com idades entre 60-88 anos, foram critérios para os subgrupos: saudável = queixa de memória e Mini Exame do Estado Mental (MMSE) maior ou igual a 26 pontos (n = 20), baixa escolaridade = queixa de memória com até 5 anos de estudo (n = 11); depressão = queixa de memória e humor, escala de depressão geriátrica (GDS) ≥ 4 pontos (n = 25); e grupo controle (n = 11),