A comparison of wandering behavior in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
Wandering, a challenging behavior associated with dementia, affects many residents of long-term care facilities and can result in elopement, injury, and death. Most studies of wandering have taken place in nursing homes (NH). Expansion of the long-term care sector over the last 2 decades has resulted in a surge in options such as assisted living facilities (ALF). This study compared wandering behavior of residents (N = 108) in 21 long-term care facilities (15 NH, 6 ALF). Staff used the Revised Algase Wandering Scale-Nursing Home Version (RAWS-NH) to quantify wandering. While there were some differences in demographic variables (i.e., race, motor ability) between NH and ALF participants, no significant differences were found in either RAWS-NH overall or any of the 6 subscale scores. This suggests that the expression of wandering is similar in long-term care residents across all dimensions of the RAWS-NH regardless of facility type. Findings are of concern for those involved in the safe management and protection of residents at risk for wandering, particularly in long-term care facilities with underregulated staffing and training requirements.
Beattie
Elizabeth R A
ER
University of Michigan Ann Arbor, School of Nursing, MI 48109, USA. ebeattie@umich.edu
Song
JunAh
J
LaGore
Shane
S
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D040561:Assisted Living Facilities / Q000458:organization & administration*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006272:Health Facility Environment; D006801:Humans; D007374:Interior Design and Furnishings; D008297:Male; D015146:Midwestern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012308:Risk Management; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016138:Walking / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*