Quality of life for people with dementia living in residential and nursing home care: the impact of performance on activities of daily living, behavioral and psychological symptoms, language skills, and psychotropic drugs.
Many people with dementia reside in care facilities. Little is known about how key parameters impact upon their quality of life (QOL). All 209 people with dementia in six facilities received a standardized assessment (Neuropsychiatric Inventory [NPI], Barthel Scale, psychotropic drugs). One hundred twelve residents were assessed using Dementia Care Mapping, an observational method for QOL indices. Lower performance on activities of daily living (reduced well-being [WB] r = +0.39, p < .0001; social withdrawal [SW] r = +0.42, p < .0001; engagement in activities [EA] r = +0.31, p = .001) and taking psychotropics (WB 2.5 vs. 3.2, t = 2.3, p = .02; SW 11.4% vs. 2.7%, t = 3.0, p = .004; EA 56.5% vs. 71.9%; t = 3.5, p = .001) were associated with reduced QOL, but symptoms from the NPI were not. More focused prescribing of psychotropics and better staff training are essential.
Ballard
C
C
Institute for the Health of the Elderly, Wolfson Research Centre, Newcastle General Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, UK. c.g.ballard@ncl.ac.uk
O'Brien
J
J
James
I
I
Mynt
P
P
Lana
M
M
Potkins
D
D
Reichelt
K
K
Lee
L
L
Swann
A
A
Fossey
J
J
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007806:Language Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000494:pharmacology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012112:Residential Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012917:Social Adjustment; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs