Interventions for confusion and dementia 4: alternative approaches

While reality orientation and reminiscence are useful therapies, recent years have been a growing awareness of other approaches to caring for people with dementia. This article discusses some of the less established, but potentially valuable, approaches--validation therapy, resolution therapy and multisensory environments. Validation therapy seeks to help care givers understand the thoughts and feelings of care receivers. In contrast to the confrontational approach of reality orientation, it encourages empathy between giver and receiver. Resolution therapy develops aspects of validation therapy, adopting a less structured, more psychodynamic and individualistic approach. Multisensory environments use sensory stimulation to achieve pleasure for the individual. All three approaches have a limited knowledge base, but share a humanistic philosophy that enables them to contribute to a person's quality of life.