Effects of check-in interval on active engagement in people with dementia

Social isolation and a lack of engagement in activities are common among people with dementia living in residential care. The check-in procedure, in which staff approach a resident to offer a choice of activities and praise engagement every 15 min, is effective in increasing engagement. However, the schedule effects of the check-in procedure have not been previously evaluated. We assessed whether the check-in procedure was effective with an extended check-in interval of 30 min. We found that the procedure remained effective with a leaner schedule and that engagement persisted above baseline levels between check-in interactions. Staff reported that the intent to increase engagement was valuable and that the procedure was easy to implement. We discuss our findings in the context of participatory interventions for dementia and the potential role of organizational factors in the adoption of evidence-based procedures in dementia care.