Semin Speech Lang 2016; 37(03): 185-200
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1583544
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Will You Still Need Me When I'm 64, or 84, or 104? The Importance of Speech-Language Pathologists in Promoting the Quality of Life of Aging Adults in the United States into the Future

Michelle Bourgeois
1   Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida
,
Jennifer Brush
2   Brush Development, Chardon, Ohio
,
Natalie Douglas
3   Department of Communication Disorders, Central Michigan University, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan
,
Rebecca Khayum
4   MemoryCare Corporation, Aurora, Illinois
,
Emily Rogalski
5   Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
27 May 2016 (online)

Abstract

In the next two decades, there will be advances in the diagnosis and treatment of the disorders of aging that have the potential to change the way speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are trained and provide services to individuals with a continuum of cognitive communication challenges. SLPs will address the needs of the aging adult who continues to reside in the community and desires to maintain an independent and meaningful life, as well as those who require a supportive residential setting to achieve a satisfying quality of life. Evidence-based strategies and intervention approaches for the range of goals that will address the desired functions of a meaningful life for individuals faced with cognitive communicative challenges are outlined. Institutional barriers to the implementation of documented evidence-based approaches will need to be reduced through a variety of organizational and systems changes. The projected outcome of these changes will be the creation of a person-centered culture of care that promotes dignity, choice, and engagement in meaningful activities through the end of life.

 
  • References

  • 1 Bayles KA, Kazniak AW. Communication and Cognition in Normal Aging and Dementia. Austin, TX: Pro-Ed; 1987
  • 2 American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th ed. Washington, DC: author; 1994
  • 3 McKhann G, Drachman D, Folstein M, Katzman R, Price D, Stadlan EM. Clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease: report of the NINCDS-ADRDA Work Group under the auspices of Department of Health and Human Services Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease. Neurology 1984; 34 (7) 939-944
  • 4 American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th ed. Washington, DC: Author; 2013
  • 5 McKhann GM, Knopman DS, Chertkow H , et al. The diagnosis of dementia due to Alzheimer's disease: recommendations from the National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer's Association workgroups on diagnostic guidelines for Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Dement 2011; 7 (3) 263-269
  • 6 Armstrong RA. What causes Alzheimer's disease?. Folia Neuropathol 2013; 51 (3) 169-188
  • 7 Hopper T, Bourgeois M, Pimentel J , et al. An evidence-based systematic review on cognitive interventions for individuals with dementia. Am J Speech Lang Pathol 2013; 22 (1) 126-145
  • 8 Douglas NF, Hinckley JJ, Haley WE, Andel R, Chisolm TH, Eddins AC. Perceptions of speech-language pathologists linked to evidence-based practice use in skilled nursing facilities. Am J Speech Lang Pathol 2014; 23 (4) 612-624
  • 9 Douglas NF. Organizational context associated with time spent evaluating language and cognitive-communicative impairments in skilled nursing facilities: survey results within an implementation science framework. J Commun Disord 2016; 60: 1-13
  • 10 Weiner AS, Ronch JL. Culture Change in Long-Term Care. New York, NY: Routledge; 2003
  • 11 Kitwood T. Dementia Reconsidered: The Person Comes First. Milton Keynes, England: Open University Press; 1997
  • 12 Robinson GE, Gallagher A. Culture change impacts quality of life for nursing home residents. Top Clin Nurs 2008; 23 (2) 120-130
  • 13 Szanton SL, Thorpe RJ, Boyd C , et al. Community aging in place, advancing better living for elders: a bio-behavioral-environmental intervention to improve function and health-related quality of life in disabled older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc 2011; 59 (12) 2314-2320
  • 14 Elliot G. Montessori Methods for DementiaTM: Focusing on the Person and the Prepared Environment. Oakville, Ontario, Canada: Dementiability Enterprises; 2011
  • 15 Bourgeois MS, Brush J, Elliot G, Kelly A. Join the revolution: how Montessori for aging and dementia can change long-term care culture. Semin Speech Lang 2015; 36 (3) 209-214
  • 16 Jack Jr CR, Knopman DS, Jagust WJ , et al. Hypothetical model of dynamic biomarkers of the Alzheimer's pathological cascade. Lancet Neurol 2010; 9 (1) 119-128
  • 17 Sperling RA, Aisen PS, Beckett LA , et al. Toward defining the preclinical stages of Alzheimer's disease: recommendations from the National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer's Association workgroups on diagnostic guidelines for Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Dement 2011; 7 (3) 280-292
  • 18 Patient Protection Act 2010, Public Law 111-148 . 111th United States Congress. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office. March 23, 2010. Available at: http://www.dpc.senate.gov/healthreformbill/healthbill04.pdf . Accessed December 22, 2013
  • 19 H.R. 3630—112th Congress: Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012. Available at: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/hr3630 . 2011. Accessed March 2, 2016
  • 20 Amtmann D, Cook KF, Johnson KL, Cella D. The PROMIS initiative: involvement of rehabilitation stakeholders in development and examples of applications in rehabilitation research. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2011; 92 (10, Suppl): S12-S19
  • 21 Bourgeois M. A functional approach to assessment in dementia: some new ideas. Paper presented at: ASHA Healthcare Conference; March, 2014; Las Vegas, NV
  • 22 Bourgeois M. Innovative treatments for persons with dementia. Paper presented at: ASHA Research Symposium; November, 2015; Denver, CO
  • 23 Reisberg B, Ferris SH, de Leon MJ, Crook T. The Global Deterioration Scale for assessment of primary degenerative dementia. Am J Psychiatry 1982; 139 (9) 1136-1139
  • 24 Allen CK. Independence through activity: the practice of occupational therapy (psychiatry). Am J Occup Ther 1982; 36 (11) 731-739
  • 25 Kueider AM, Parisi JM, Gross AL, Rebok GW. Computerized cognitive training with older adults: a systematic review. PLoS ONE 2012; 7 (7) e40588
  • 26 Van Muijden J, Band G, Hommel B. Online games training aging brains: limited transfer to cognitive control factors. Front Hum Neurosci 2012; 6: 141-153
  • 27 Bourgeois M. Therapy techniques for mild cognitive impairment. Perspectives on Neurophysiology and Neurogenic Speech and Language Disorders 2013; 23 (1) 23-34
  • 28 Association Montessori Internationale. Montessori for Ageing and Dementia, Certificate Course Curriculum. Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Author; 2015
  • 29 Albert MS, DeKosky ST, Dickson D , et al. The diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease: recommendations from the National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer's Association workgroups on diagnostic guidelines for Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Dement 2011; 7 (3) 270-279
  • 30 Petersen RC. Clinical practice. Mild cognitive impairment. N Engl J Med 2011; 364 (23) 2227-2234
  • 31 Mesulam MM. Primary progressive aphasia—a language-based dementia. N Engl J Med 2003; 349 (16) 1535-1542
  • 32 Mesulam MM, Rogalski EJ, Wieneke C , et al. Primary progressive aphasia and the evolving neurology of the language network. Nat Rev Neurol 2014; 10 (10) 554-569
  • 33 Rascovsky K, Hodges JR, Kipps CM , et al. Diagnostic criteria for the behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD): current limitations and future directions. Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord 2007; 21 (4) S14-S18
  • 34 Crutch SJ, Lehmann M, Schott JM, Rabinovici GD, Rossor MN, Fox NC. Posterior cortical atrophy. Lancet Neurol 2012; 11 (2) 170-178
  • 35 Morhardt D, Weintraub S, Khayum B , et al. The CARE pathway model for dementia: psychosocial and rehabilitative strategies for care in young-onset dementias. Psychiatr Clin North Am 2015; 38 (2) 333-352
  • 36 Youmans GL, Holland AL, Munoz M, Bourgeois M. Script training and automaticity in two individuals with aphasia. Aphasiology 2005; 19: 435-450
  • 37 Beeson P, Hirsch F, Rewega M. Successful single-word writing treatment: experimental analyses of four cases. Aphasiology 2002; 16 (4–6) 473-491
  • 38 Croot K. Progressive language impairments: definitions, diagnoses, and prognoses. Aphasiology 2009; 23 (2) 302-326
  • 39 Croot K, Nickels L, Laurence F, Manning M. Impairment- and activity/participation-directed interventions in progressive language impairment: clinical and theoretical issues. Aphasiology 2009; 23 (2) 125-160
  • 40 Montessori M. The Montessori Method. New York, NY: Schocken Books; 1964
  • 41 Lin LC, Huang YJ, Su SG, Watson R, Tsai BW, Wu SC. Using spaced retrieval and Montessori-based activities in improving eating ability for residents with dementia. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2010; 25 (10) 953-959
  • 42 Roberts G, Morley C, Walters W, Malta S, Doyle C. Caring for people with dementia in residential aged care: successes with a composite person-centered care model featuring Montessori-based activities. Geriatr Nurs 2015; 36 (2) 106-110
  • 43 Brush J, Bourgeois M, Casper M. A functional approach for achieving meaningful goals with persons with dementia. Online course available at Northern Speech Services. 2015
  • 44 American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Scope of practice in speech-language pathology [scope of practice]. 2016. Available at: www.asha.org/policy/ . Accessed on May 4, 2016
  • 45 Tejada-Vera B. Mortality from Alzheimer's disease in the United States: Data for 2000 and 2010. NCHS data brief, no. 116. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics; 2013. . Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db116.htm . Accessed February 15, 2016
  • 46 Poon P, Hui E, Dai D, Kwok T, Woo J. Cognitive intervention for community-dwelling older persons with memory problems: telemedicine versus face-to-face treatment. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2005; 20 (3) 285-286
  • 47 Green LW, Ottoson JM, García C, Hiatt RA. Diffusion theory and knowledge dissemination, utilization, and integration in public health. Annu Rev Public Health 2009; 30: 151-174
  • 48 Aarons GA, Glisson C, Green PD , et al; Research Network on Youth Mental Health. The organizational social context of mental health services and clinician attitudes toward evidence-based practice: a United States national study. Implement Sci 2012; 7: 56
  • 49 Glisson C, Hemmelgarn A, Green P, Dukes D, Atkinson S, Williams NJ. Randomized trial of the Availability, Responsiveness, and Continuity (ARC) organizational intervention with community-based mental health programs and clinicians serving youth. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2012; 51 (8) 780-787
  • 50 Trinkoff AM, Han K, Storr CL, Lerner N, Johantgen M, Gartrell K. Turnover, staffing, skill mix, and resident outcomes in a national sample of US nursing homes. J Nurs Adm 2013; 43 (12) 630-636
  • 51 Douglas NF, Hickey E. Creating positive environments in skilled nursing facilities to support best practice implementation: An overview and practical suggestions. Semin Speech Lang 2015; 36 (3) 167-178
  • 52 Lawlis T, Wicks A, Jamieson M, Haughey A, Grealish L. Interprofessional education in practice: evaluation of a work interaged aged care program. Nursing Education in Practice. 2015. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2015.11.010 . Accessed February 15, 2016
  • 53 Barwick M, Barac R, Akrong LM, Johnson S, Chaban P. Bringing evidence to the classroom: exploring educator notions of evidence and preferences for practice change. International Education Research 2004; 2 (4) 1-15
  • 54 Seif G, Coker-Bolt P, Kraft S, Gonsalves W, Simpson K, Johnson E. The development of clinical reasoning and interprofessional behaviors: service-learning at a student-run free clinic. J Interprof Care 2014; 28 (6) 559-564
  • 55 Skropeta CM, Colvin A, Sladen S. An evaluative study of the benefits of participating in intergenerational playgroups in aged care for older people. BMC Geriatr 2014; 14: 109
  • 56 Douglas N. The impact of improvement cycles on the implementation of a non-pharmacological intervention for residents with memory impairment living independently with services. Paper presented at: Global Implementation Conference; May 2015; Dublin, Ireland
  • 57 Kagan A, Black SE, Duchan JF, Simmons-Mackie N, Square P. Training volunteers as conversation partners using “Supported Conversation for Adults with Aphasia” (SCA): a controlled trial. J Speech Lang Hear Res 2001; 44 (3) 624-638