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Dementia care partners’ reported outcomes after adaptive riding: a theoretical thematic analysis

Rebecca Lassell (Department of Occupational Therapy, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA, and is currently at the Rory Meyers College of Nursing, Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing, New York University, New York, New York, USA)
Beth Fields (Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA)
Jennifer E. Cross (Department of Sociology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA)
Wendy Wood (Departments of Occupational Therapy and Animal Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA and is currently at the Occupational Therapy Doctorate Program, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA)

Quality in Ageing and Older Adults

ISSN: 1471-7794

Article publication date: 16 March 2022

Issue publication date: 9 June 2022

118

Abstract

Purpose

This case study aims to explore the appropriateness of an adaptive riding program for persons living with dementia through examining family members’ (care partners) reported outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

Using convenience sampling, persons living with dementia and their care partners were recruited in Northern Colorado; after meeting inclusion criteria, they were invited to participate in the adaptive riding program. The program occurred for weekly, hour-long sessions for eight weeks. Field notes were collected during each session, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with five care partners after the program and analyzed by using theoretical thematic analysis.

Findings

Care partners found the adaptive riding program appropriate. Reported outcomes comprised three themes: well-being, meaning through social connections and function in daily life and aligned with the positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, accomplishment (PERMA) theory of well-being.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to explore the appropriateness of an adaptive riding program for persons living with dementia and their care partners who broadened understandings of the emotional, social and physical benefits. Findings support the inclusion of care partners in adaptive riding and may inform health-care providers’ recommendations for such programs.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge Hearts and Horses Therapeutic Riding Center and the care partners who shared their experiences to make this study possible. Declaration of conflicting interests: This study occurred under the Temple Grandin Equine Center at Colorado State University and was supported by the Carl and Caroline Swanson Foundation and the Catalyst for Innovative Partnerships at Colorado State University. Funder’s role: The funder did not have a role in the design, methods, data acquisition, collection, and analysis and the preparation of the paper.

Citation

Lassell, R., Fields, B., Cross, J.E. and Wood, W. (2022), "Dementia care partners’ reported outcomes after adaptive riding: a theoretical thematic analysis", Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, Vol. 23 No. 1, pp. 14-25. https://doi.org/10.1108/QAOA-01-2022-0007

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited

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