The association of neuropsychiatric symptoms and environment with quality of life in assisted living residents with dementia.
OBJECTIVE
We conducted this study to determine whether neuropsychiatric symptoms and environmental characteristics are associated with quality of life in assisted living residents with dementia.


METHODS
We used a cross-sectional study of 134 residents from 22 facilities and employed the Alzheimer's Disease-Related Quality of Life Scale and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory. A scale was developed to capture the homelike climate of each facility. Linear regression analyses were used to estimate the relationship of neuropsychiatric symptoms and homelike climate with quality of life, controlling for sociodemographics, cognition, functional dependence, and physical health. Exploratory analyses and graphical techniques were employed to test for environmental-level moderating effects.


RESULTS
Agitation, depression, apathy, and irritability were significant predictors of quality of life, explaining 29% of the variance. Neither facility size nor homelike environment was significantly associated with quality of life in univariate analyses. Size of facility moderated the relationship between agitation and quality of life.


CONCLUSIONS
Neuropsychiatric symptoms impair quality of life in residents with dementia. Further research should investigate the role of other environmental aspects.
Samus
Quincy M
QM
Division of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neuropsychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. qmiles@jhmi.edu
Rosenblatt
Adam
A
Steele
Cynthia
C
Baker
Alva
A
Harper
Michael
M
Brandt
Jason
J
Mayer
Lawrence
L
Rabins
Peter V
PV
Lyketsos
Constantine G
CG
D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D040561:Assisted Living Facilities; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications* / Q000451:nursing*; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000209:etiology; D011788:Quality of Life