Keeping up health promotion practices in specialized day care units for people with dementia.
BACKGROUND
Health promotion practices hold promises for elderly individuals' quality of life. This article shows that such practices can be promoted in specialized day care units for individuals with dementia.


METHODS
Group interviews with 8 groups of staff (comprising 24 staff members) in 3 day care units.


RESULTS
Rather than referring directly to health promotion practices, the staff-members talked about the importance of regular drinks and meals, as well as exercise such as gym programs, walking, and swimming sessions for the wellbeing of their clients. They also maintained that the pursuit of different individual interests reduced stress both for the individual client and for the respective family.


CONCLUSIONS
Day care for elderly individuals with dementia can promote individual health practices, in as much as it is based on knowledgeable monitoring of health and well-being. Such health practices strengthen the daycare client's optimal independent function which the staff members regard as a prerequisite for living at home.
University of Iceland, Reykjavík, Iceland. margust@hi.is
Margrét
M
Gústafsdóttir
D000368:Aged; D003631:Day Care, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003704:Dementia / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D022143:Family Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005522:Food Services; D005851:Geriatric Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D007055:Iceland; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000523:psychology; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D014038:Toilet Facilities