Dementia Research
Touch & Sound

Touch and sound offer comfort for dementia patients

Patients suffering with dementia often express anxiety and dysfunctional behaviour, making the task of looking after them much more difficult for all those around them.

A study by the Department of Nursing, in South Korea explored the effect of using expressive physical touch with verbalisation (EPT/V) in patients suffering with dementia.

The results of the study revealed that anxiety is considerably lowered immediately following EPT/V and that EPT/V leads to decreased episodes of dysfunctional behaviour.

As a result, the best method of treatment for family members and those looking after patients is to use a combination of expressive physical touch and verbalisation when caring for patients’ with dementia. The treatment is considered effective in improving and maintaining patients' quality of life, since it is cost-effective, simple to learn and can be practised by almost anyone.

Source : Int J Nurs Stud 1999 Jun;36(3):235-43
The effect of expressive physical touch on patients with dementia.
Kim EJ, Buschmann MT

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