Multiple perspectives on quality of life for residents with dementia in long term care facilities: protocol for a comprehensive Australian study

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (10) ◽  
pp. 1739-1747 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Beattie ◽  
Maria O’Reilly ◽  
Wendy Moyle ◽  
Lynn Chenoweth ◽  
Deirdre Fetherstonhaugh ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTBackground:Dementia is a chronic illness without cure or effective treatment, which results in declining mental and physical function and assistance from others to manage activities of daily living. Many people with dementia live in long term care facilities, yet research into their quality of life (QoL) was rare until the last decade. Previous studies failed to incorporate important variables related to the facility and care provision or to look closely at the daily lives of residents. This paper presents a protocol for a comprehensive, multi-perspective assessment of QoL of residents with dementia living in long term care in Australia. A secondary aim is investigating the effectiveness of self-report instruments for measuring QoL.Methods:The study utilizes a descriptive, mixed methods design to examine how facility, care staff, and resident factors impact QoL. Over 500 residents with dementia from a stratified, random sample of 53 facilities are being recruited. A sub-sample of 12 residents is also taking part in qualitative interviews and observations.Conclusions:This national study will provide a broad understanding of factors underlying QoL for residents with dementia in long term care. The present study uses a similar methodology to the US-based Collaborative Studies of Long Term Care (CS-LTC) Dementia Care Study, applying it to the Australian setting.

2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heehyul Moon ◽  
Peggye Dilworth-Anderson ◽  
Johannes Gräske

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to review and synthesize the research literature on the quality of life (QoL) of both caregivers (CGs) and care recipients (CRs) with dementia after admission to long-term care facilities. Design/methodology/approach Four databases – AgeLine, Medline, EBSCO, and PyscINFO – were searched and the relevant literature from 2002 onwards was reviewed. Findings The review of 12 studies (five studies, including only family CGs; six studies including residents; one study including both family CGs and CRs) reveals a discrepancy regarding the effects of institutionalization on the CRs’ and CGs’ QoL. Among seven studies on CRs’ QoL change, some reviewed studies found a significant decline in CRs’ QoL after placement with others showing that CRs’ QoL was improved or stable. While some reports indicated that some family CGs benefited from placement, others showed that CGs merely maintained their QoL. However, family CGs in the reviewed studies were more likely to report improved QoL than were their CRs after institutionalization. Research limitations/implications The authors recommend that future studies should focus on understanding the individual’s adaptation to placement, dyadic changes in QoL (including mediators/moderators). They emphasize the need for a comprehensive longitudinal study with more than one wave and includes diverse groups including racial/ethnic minority CGs and CRs. Originality/value This study reviewed and synthesized the research literature on the QoL of both caregiver and the people with dementia they cared for after those they cared for were admitted to long-term care facilities. The conclusions drawn about influences on QoL provide guidance for identifying best practices and research.


2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (8) ◽  
pp. 1323-1331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanneke C. Beerens ◽  
Bram de Boer ◽  
Sandra M.G. Zwakhalen ◽  
Frans E.S. Tan ◽  
Dirk Ruwaard ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTBackground:To improve the quality of life (QoL) of people with dementia (PwD) living in long-term care facilities, insight into the association between QoL and how people spend their daily lives is urgently needed. This study investigated which aspects of daily life are related to QoL in dementia.Methods:An observational study was conducted. Daily life was assessed with the tablet-based Maastricht Electronic Daily Life Observation-tool (MEDLO-tool). Aspects included activity, engagement in the activity, social interaction, physical effort, mood, and agitation. QoL was assessed by formal nursing caregivers using the Quality of Life-Alzheimer's Disease scale (QoL-AD). A total of 9,660 momentary assessments were conducted.Results:The mean age of the 115 participants was 84 years and most (75%) were women. Bivariate analyses showed that residents with a higher QoL carried out less passive/purposeless activities (25% vs. 38%), were more engaged in active, expressive, and social activities, (40% vs. 27%), had more social interaction (34% vs. 22%), and had better mood scores (scale 1–7, 5.0 vs. 4.8), compared with residents with a lower QoL (allp-values < 0.001). Multivariate analyses showed that having more social interaction and a positive mood are related to a higher QoL.Conclusions:The results underline the importance of social interaction and a positive mood for a higher QoL. Future research should investigate the importance of engagement in activities in more detail.


2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (10) ◽  
pp. 1687-1695 ◽  
Author(s):  
María Crespo ◽  
Carlos Hornillos ◽  
M. Mar Gómez

ABSTRACTBackground:The Quality of Life-Alzheimer's Disease Scale (QOL-AD) is a reliable and valid self-report measure for assessing quality of life (QoL) in people with dementia in long-term care settings, but little is known yet about the number of patients with severe cognitive impairment who are able to complete this measure, and the characteristics of those unable to do so. The aim of the study is to advance knowledge of these issues.Methods:Data on residents with dementia were collected from 11 nursing homes. The QOL-AD residential version was directly applied to residents with dementia diagnosis and Mini-Mental State Examination scores under 27, randomly selected in each center. Residents’ QoL was further assessed from the perspective of some close relative and some staff member. Altogether, 102 data sets from residents, 184 from relatives, and 197 from staff members were collected. An analysis of the characteristics of completers versus non-completers regarding levels of cognitive impairment was carried out.Results:People with dementia in long-term care are able to report their QoL. The QOL-AD completion rate decreases as the cognitive impairment level increases; non-completion is associated with greater overall impairment. About 30% of residents with severe cognitive impairment could self-report on their QoL with acceptable reliability.Conclusions:QoL self-rating should be the first-line option when assessing residents with severe cognitive impairment. For those that are not able to complete self-report measures, proxies’ report could be an alternative, although the development of other assessment procedures (e.g. observational) should be considered.


2013 ◽  
Vol 50 (9) ◽  
pp. 1259-1270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanneke C. Beerens ◽  
Sandra M.G. Zwakhalen ◽  
Hilde Verbeek ◽  
Dirk Ruwaard ◽  
Jan P.H. Hamers

2011 ◽  
Vol 21 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 1632-1640 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendy Moyle ◽  
Natalie Gracia ◽  
Jenny E Murfield ◽  
Susan G Griffiths ◽  
Lorraine Venturato

2014 ◽  
Vol 71 (6) ◽  
pp. 1435-1447 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanneke C. Beerens ◽  
Sandra M.G. Zwakhalen ◽  
Hilde Verbeek ◽  
Dirk Ruwaard ◽  
Antonius W. Ambergen ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S442-S442
Author(s):  
Ethan A McMahan ◽  
Marion Godoy ◽  
Abiola Awosanya ◽  
Robert Winningham ◽  
Charles De Vilmorin ◽  
...  

Abstract Empirical research on long-term care facility resident engagement has consistently indicated that increased engagement is associated with more positive clinical outcomes and increased quality of life. The current study adds to this existing literature by documenting the positive effects of technologically-mediated recreational programing on quality of life and medication usage in aged residents living in long-term care facilities. Technologically-mediated recreational programming was defined as recreational programming that was developed, implemented, and /or monitored using software platforms dedicated specifically for these types of activities. This study utilized a longitudinal design and was part of a larger project examining quality of life in older adults. A sample of 272 residents from three long-term care facilities in Toronto, Ontario participated in this project. Resident quality of life was assessed at multiple time points across a span of approximately 12 months, and resident engagement in recreational programming was monitored continuously during this twelve-month period. Quality of life was measured using the Resident Assessment Instrument Minimum Data Set Version 2.0. Number of pharmacological medication prescriptions received during the twelve-month study period was also assessed. Descriptive analyses indicated that, in general, resident functioning tended to decrease over time. However, when controlling for age, gender, and baseline measures of resident functioning, engagement in technologically-mediated recreational programming was positively associated with several indicators of quality of life. The current findings thus indicate that engagement in technology-mediated recreational programming is associated with increased quality of life of residents in long-term care facilities.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S341-S341
Author(s):  
Shu-Chuan Chen ◽  
Wendy Moyle ◽  
Cindy Jones

Abstract Aim: This study aimed to explore the effect of a social robot Paro intervention on depression and well-being in older adults with depression living in long-term care facilities in Taiwan. Methods: This study was adopted a single group and quasi-experimental with repeated measures design. Each participant participated in two stages: observation and Paro intervention stages. Stage 1 was an 8-week observation stage in long-term care facilities where the purpose was to observe the normal mood, behaviour and activities of older adults with depression. In stage 2, each participant was given a Paro by the researcher to keep for 24 hours for 7 days in for 8 weeks. Outcome measurements were obtained 4 times: a week before the intervention (T1), immediately the end of 8-week observation (T2), mid-point of Paro intervention (T3), and immediately the end of 8-week Paro intervention (T4). Instruments included the Geriatric Depression Scale, the UCLA Loneliness Scale version 3, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire-OLD. Results: There were 20 participants completed the study. The mean age of participants was 81.1years (SD = 8.2). After 8-week Paro intervention, statistically significant differences in changes were found on depression, loneliness, and quality of life from pre-intervention to post-intervention. Conclusion: This study was found that Paro intervention has beneficial effects on depression and mental well-being for older people with depression in long-term care facilities. Paro Intervention might be a suitable psychosocial intervention for older people with depression and should be considered as a useful tool in clinical practice.


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