1. Re-Imagine Life with Dementia Engage-Empower-Enable
Dementia Action Alliance Conference
Optimizing Well-Being
Inspired Approaches
The Connected Horse Program
Westin Buckhead Hotel
Atlanta, GA
June 27, 2017
Re-Imagine Life with Dementia 6/27/17

2. Equine Guided Engagement Workshops for People Affected by Dementia
Our Story: Connected Horse Paula Hertel MSW Nancy Schier-Anzelmo MSG Co Founders of Connected Horse
Equine Guided Engagement Workshops for People Affected by Dementia
Why have we created this pilot study meaningful engagement opportunities?
Re-Imagine Life with Dementia 6/27/17

3. Connected Horse Goal: Participants will:
To acquaint attendees with an exciting new equine guided engagement program for people living with dementia and care partners.
Participants will:
Gain general knowledge of the history and therapeutic value of equine guided work with clients and care partners
Understand the outcomes from Connected Horse Pilot Research Project
Practice skills from the Equine Guided Engagement Model to improve communication and empathy with clients
Equine Guided Engagement Workshops for People Affected by Dementia
Delete the bullets under Goal and Participants will
Re-Imagine Life with Dementia 6/27/17

4. Re-Imagine Life with Dementia 6/27/17
Connected Horse
Can you imbed this video so that it plays in a loop while the audience in entering the room?
What do you think of when you think of a horse?
Re-Imagine Life with Dementia 6/27/17

5. Re-Imagine Life with Dementia 6/27/17
Why Horses ?
For centuries horses have relied on their abilities to adapt to change, sense their environment, and utilize the interdependence of the herd to thrive.
Facilitators bring awareness to these instinctual characteristics while encouraging participants to build their own awareness regarding their somatic and emotional responses.
The human-horse connection is especially powerful as the nonverbal responses and behaviors of horses often act as mirrors to participants and provide awareness, clarity, and strength.
The History of Equine Guided Interventions ( 15 minutes) - What did you think of when you saw the horse video…. What comes up for you when you think of or see horses?
Why Horses - Innate Characteristics and Power of the Herd Behavior ( video/music)
Re-Imagine Life with Dementia 6/27/17

6. Older Horses & Older Adults
Why Horses….magic communication & Claudia’s comments…
Re-Imagine Life with Dementia 6/27/17

7. Equine Assisted Models
Equine Assisted Education/Learning
Equine Assisted Coaching
Equine Assisted Psychotherapy
Therapeutic Riding
Hippotherapy
Our Hybrid – Equine Guided Engagement Model
Need to change * Pam Salem –to give her credit. Not a bullet point
Re-Imagine Life with Dementia 6/27/17

8. Re-Imagine Life with Dementia 6/27/17
Pilot Project: Stanford University
& the University of California, Davis
The Equine Guided Support Pilot Study measured the effectiveness of equine-guided workshops on stress reduction and quality of life indicators for people with early stage dementia and their care partners.
The three session equine facilitated engagement workshops used cues found in typical herd behavior, and the natural environment to elicit multi-sensory responses from care partners and persons with dementia.
The pre and post test design utilized neurocognitive instruments including measures of stress, burden, mood/depression, behaviors, and social support for the care partner and the person with dementia.
The four combined pilot studies included a total of 54 participants, or 22 dyads of the care partner and the person living with dementia
Re-Imagine Life with Dementia 6/27/17

9. Re-Imagine Life with Dementia 6/27/17
Video
( we need to imbed) OR Elaine's video for Stanford
Re-Imagine Life with Dementia 6/27/17

10. Re-Imagine Life with Dementia 6/27/17
Yawning
– imbed in presentation
Re-Imagine Life with Dementia 6/27/17

11. Re-Imagine Life with Dementia 6/27/17
Overview of Research Findings ( slide show, graph and abstract info) MoCA: n=7, (5 CPs, 2 PWD), none declined, all remained same or improved, mean change score (delta)= CESD: n=5; (4 CPs,1 PWD), 4 remained same or improved, PWD improved, mean delta: +.4 PSS: n=7, (5 CPs, 2 PWD), 3 CPs improved, 1 PWD improved; 3 declined, mean delta=+.86 MSPSS: n=7, (5 CPs, 2 PWD), 3 CPs and 2 PWD improved, 2 CPs declined, mean delta=+2.99 GDS: n=7, (5 CPs, 2 PWD), 5/7 improved, 2 declined, only 1 point, mean delta=+.43 PSQI: n=6, (5 CPs, 1 PWD), 6/6 showed equal (1) or improved sleep quality, mean delta=+1.17; 5/6 improved, 1 PWD, 5 CPs. ZBI: n=3 CPs only completed pre and post, all 3/3 CPs improved, 2 showed +2 delta, 1 showed marked improvement in sleep quality, delta=+12.
Preliminary Results from the pilot project data
Re-Imagine Life with Dementia 6/27/17

12. Qualitative Findings – Person Living with Dementia
Decrease in disruptive and/or undesired behaviors
Increase in dyad communication and focus
Increase in ability to adapt to changing roles
Mutual trust and respect among the group
Increased physical presence including body posture, facial expressions, language and pace
Outcomes for Persons with Dementia and Care Partners
Re-Imagine Life with Dementia 6/27/17

13. Qualitative Findings – Care Partners
Increase in dyad communication
Increase verbalization of optimism and hope
Mutual trust and respect among the group
Increased physical presence including body posture, facial expressions, language and pace
Re-Imagine Life with Dementia 6/27/17

14. Equine Guided Engagement Model
An experiential learning model that encourages personal engagement with horses, the environment and each other.
Developing Awareness and Skills to Reduce Stress
Developing Verbal and Non Verbal Communication Strategies that Strengthen Relationships
Connecting Somatic and Emotional Responses to Behaviors
Add an exercise here.
Re-Imagine Life with Dementia 6/27/17

15. Meet Richard & Charlotte
“ We learned a lot about each other”
Quotes after the workshops:
Remember to stay in the moment
Gave us hope
Energized us to find things to do together
Taught us about nonverbal communication
Find a front photo of Richard
Re-Imagine Life with Dementia 6/27/17

16. Questions or Comments ? Thank You,
Paula & Nancy
For more information please contact us at Connected Horse
Re-Imagine Life with Dementia 6/27/17