Benazir Meera, Melissa Hiatt, Abby Hays, Sarah Punshon, Jeanette Reffstrup Christensen, Beth Fields
Majority of the participants (95%; n = 21) reported overall satisfaction with training and felt prepared to deliver RM. All fidelity checklist items were met, indicating strong adherence to program protocols. Post-implementation, majority of the participants (74%; n = 11) were extremely satisfied with RM, and 100% (n = 15) stated they would recommend the program. Qualitative feedback emphasized the emotional impact of the experience, value of structured training, and opportunities to improve volunteer engagement and communication.
INTRODUCTION: Riding in the Moment™ (RM) is a community-based, standardized, evidence-informed equine-assisted service program designed to support individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias and their caregivers through social connection, physical activity, and meaningful engagement. Delivered by trained non-clinical personnel, RM's long-term success depends on effective implementation and sustainability in real-world settings. This project explored implementation strategies used to deliver RM, focusing on staff and volunteer preparedness and satisfaction.
METHODS: A repeated measures survey design that included closed-ended items and open-ended questions, guided by the RE-AIM framework, was used to explore implementation strategies. Pre-and post-implementation surveys assessed training satisfaction, perceived preparedness, and delivery experience among RM staff and volunteers. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative feedback was organized into key categories. Implementation and fidelity checklists were also completed.
RESULTS: Majority of the participants (95%; n = 21) reported overall satisfaction with training and felt prepared to deliver RM. All fidelity checklist items were met, indicating strong adherence to program protocols. Post-implementation, majority of the participants (74%; n = 11) were extremely satisfied with RM, and 100% (n = 15) stated they would recommend the program. Qualitative feedback emphasized the emotional impact of the experience, value of structured training, and opportunities to improve volunteer engagement and communication.
DISCUSSION: This program evaluation project contributes to understanding early-stage implementation considerations for community-based dementia-specific programs in real-world settings. Continued evaluation is needed to determine how these factors influence long-term implementation, program sustainability, and scalability across broader settings.