Engagement in persons with dementia: the concept and its measurement.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this article is to delineate the underlying premises of the concept of engagement in persons with dementia and present a new theoretical framework of engagement.


METHODS
The sample included 193 residents of seven Maryland nursing homes. All participants had a diagnosis of dementia.


METHODS
The authors describe a model of factors that affect engagement of persons with dementia. Moreover, the authors present the psychometric qualities of an assessment designed to capture the dimensions of engagement (Observational Measurement of Engagement). Finally, the authors detail plans for future research and data analyses that are currently underway.


CONCLUSIONS
This article lays the foundation for a new theoretical framework concerning the mechanisms of interactions between persons with cognitive impairment and environmental stimuli. Additionally, the study examines what factors are associated with interest and negative and positive feelings in engagement.
Cohen-Mansfield
Jiska
J
Research Institute on Aging, Charles E. Smith Life Communities, Rockville, MD 20852, USA. cohen-mansfield@hebrew-home.org
Dakheel-Ali
Maha
M
Marx
Marcia S
MS
D000339:Affect; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001887:Boredom; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009042:Motivation; D009735:Nursing Homes; D015588:Observer Variation; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods*