title: The influence of cognitive impairment, special care unit placement, and nursing facility characteristics on resident quality of life.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We examined the (a) influence of nursing facility characteristics on resident quality of life and (b) the impact of cognitive impairment and residence on a dementia special care unit(SCU) on QOL after controlling for resident and facility characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multilevel models (resident and facility) were estimated for residents with and without cognitive impairment on conventional units and dementia SCU. Data came from the 2007 Minnesota Nursing Home Resident Quality of Life and Consumer Satisfaction Survey (N = 13,983).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Level of resident CI was negatively related to QOL, although residing on a dementia SCU was positively related to QOL. Certified Nursing Assistant and activity personnel hours per resident day had a positive relationship with resident QOL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results highlight the need to ensure adequate levels of paraprofessional direct care staff and the availability of dementia-focused (SCU)s despite current constraints on long-term care funding.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY 42101, USA. kathleen.abrahamson@wku.edu
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Abrahamson
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perkins
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Arif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nazir
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Arling
mesh_terms: D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D003704:Dementia / Q000451:nursing*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008910:Minnesota; D055361:Multilevel Analysis; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011788:Quality of Life
keywords: cognitive impairment (CI); facility characteristics; nursing home (NH); quality of life (QOL)