title: Change and predictors of change in social skills of nursing home residents with dementia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Social skills are of primary importance for those with dementia and their care providers, yet we know little about the extent to which basic social skills can be maintained over time and the predictors of change.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 18 nursing homes with 149 newly admitted residents with moderate to severe dementia, 195 direct care staff, and 135 family members, in British Columbia, Canada, contributed data on change in social skills from admission to 6 months and 1 year later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three-quarters of residents maintained or improved their basic social skills during both the time periods. Decline was explained primarily by cognitive status at the time of admission, notably present orientation. However, staff-to-resident communication becomes more important over time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Social skills appear to present an opportunity to maintain interaction with these residents. The findings also suggest that a focus on the present orientation before and following admission and on staff-to-resident communication may be beneficial.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Sociology, Centre on Aging, University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Neena L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Chappell
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kadlec
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Reid
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001955:British Columbia; D017028:Caregivers; D003142:Communication; D003704:Dementia / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009735:Nursing Homes; D009740:Nursing Staff; D012919:Social Behavior
keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; cognitive function; dementia care; nursing homes; social skills