Correlates of caregiver-rated quality of life in assisted living: the Maryland Assisted Living study.
We used a cross-sectional study to examine the correlates of caregiver-rated quality of life (QOL) in 198 randomly selected residents from a stratified random sample of 22 assisted living facilities in central Maryland. We measured QOL by using the Alzheimer's Disease-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire. In general, despite cognitive impairment, residents in assisted living were rated as having a high QOL. In a multivariate regression, we found that nonmood neuropsychiatric symptoms were the strongest correlate of QOL, explaining 37% of the variance. Depressive symptoms, functional dependence, marital status, and cognition also contributed to the model, but only minimally. Because of the strong association of neuropsychiatric symptoms with QOL, special attention should be given to their recognition and amelioration.
Samus
Quincy M
QM
The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 550 North Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. qmiles@jhmi.edu
Rosenblatt
Adam
A
Onyike
Chiadi
C
Steele
Cynthia
C
Baker
Alva
A
Harper
Michael
M
Brandt
Jason
J
Mayer
Lawrence
L
Rabins
Peter V
PV
Lyketsos
Constantine G
CG
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000523:psychology; D040561:Assisted Living Facilities; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008396:Maryland; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D013223:Statistics as Topic