The association between activity participation and time to discharge in the assisted living setting.
OBJECTIVE
Given recent evidence that activity participation may reduce functional decline, the effect of activity on resident ability to remain in assisted living (AL) is of interest. This study examines the relationship between participation in activities and the length of time residents remain in AL.


METHODS
The data reported here were gathered in the initial phase of the Maryland Assisted Living Study (MDAL), an epidemiologic study of psychiatric disorders in AL. A stratified, random sample of 198 residents of 22 AL facilities in central Maryland was evaluated using a number of cognitive, behavioral, general health, and functional assessments. The total amount of time each resident spent in group and solitary activity in the prior month was quantified. The dependent variable, time to discharge (TTD), was the number of days between the date of initial assessment by the study team and the date of death in AL, discharge, or administrative censoring.


RESULTS
Greater levels of activity participation at baseline are associated with longer TTD in an univariate Cox proportional hazards model. After adjustment for global cognitive functioning, general medical health, and mobility, greater activity participation remained associated with longer TTD in AL (p=0.017).


CONCLUSIONS
Higher levels of activity are associated with longer retention in the AL setting. This effect appeared to be independent of other potentially confounding factors such as general health, cognitive impairment, and mobility. This finding is consistent with the hypothesis that engagement in activities delays functional decline, but further longitudinal research is needed to understand this finding.
Tighe
Sarah K
SK
Division of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neuropsychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, USA.
Leoutsakos
Jeannie-Marie S
JM
Carlson
Michelle C
MC
Onyike
Chiadi U
CU
Samus
Quincy
Q
Baker
Alva
A
Brandt
Jason
J
Rabins
Peter V
PV
Mayer
Lawrence
L
Rosenblatt
Adam
A
Lyketsos
Constantine G
CG
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D040561:Assisted Living Facilities; D003704:Dementia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales