The effects of group living homes on older people with dementia: a comparison with traditional nursing home care.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of group living homes on quality of life and functioning of people with dementia.


METHODS
The study had a quasi-experimental design with a baseline measurement on admission and an effect measurement six months later. Participants were 67 residents in 19 group living homes and 97 residents in seven traditional nursing homes. DQOL and QUALIDEM measured quality of life, functional status was examined with MMSE, IDDD, RMBPC, NPI-Q and RISE from RAI. Use of psychotropic drugs and physical restraints was also assessed. Linear and logistic regression analyses analyzed the data.


RESULTS
After adjustment for differences in baseline characteristics, residents of group living homes needed less help with ADL and were more socially engaged. There were no differences in behavioral problems or cognitive status. Also after adjusting, two of the 12 quality of life subscales differed between the groups. Residents of group living homes had more sense of aesthetics and had more to do. While there were no differences in prescription of psychotropic drugs, residents of group living homes had less physical restraints.


CONCLUSIONS
Group living homes had some beneficial effects on its residents, but traditional nursing homes performed well as well. Possible study limitations included the baseline differences between the study groups and the use of different informants on T0 and T1. Future nursing home care may very well be a combination of the best group living care and traditional nursing home care have to offer.
te Boekhorst
Selma
S
Program on Aging, Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction, 3500 AS Utrecht, The Netherlands. sboekhorst@trimbos.nl
Depla
Marja F I A
MF
de Lange
Jacomine
J
Pot
Anne Margriet
AM
Eefsting
Jan A
JA
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003704:Dementia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D016352:Group Homes / Q000592:standards*; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000592:standards*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012107:Research Design; D012149:Restraint, Physical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data