title: A comparison of training strategies to enhance use of external aids by persons with dementia.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of two training approaches, Spaced Retrieval (SR) and a modified Cueing Hierarchy (CH), for teaching persons with dementia a strategy goal involving an external memory aid. Twenty-five persons with dementia living in either community or nursing home settings received training on two individual-specific strategy goals, one with each training approach. Results revealed that significantly more goals were attained using SR procedures than CH, but that a majority of participants learned to use external aids using both strategies. There were no significant differences in the number of sessions required to master goals in either condition; however, significantly more SR goals were maintained at both 1-week and 4-months post-training compared to CH goals. Mental status was not significantly correlated with goal mastery, suggesting the potential benefits of strategy training beyond the early stages of dementia.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  As a result of this activity, the reader will be able to (1) identify ways to enable persons with dementia to make effective use of external memory aids; (2) describe a method, Spaced Retrieval, by which persons with dementia can learn and retain information; and (3) describe two approaches to working with persons with dementia to train a strategy learning goal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Communication Disorders, Florida State University, 302 Rehabilitation Center, Tallahassee, FL 32306-1200, USA. Michelle.Bourgeois@comm.fsu.edu
authors.forename: Michelle S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Bourgeois
authors.forename: Cameron
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Camp
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: Blanche
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Malone
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carr
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rovine
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003463:Cues; D003631:Day Care, Medical; D003704:Dementia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000502:physiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009735:Nursing Homes; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care