title: Physical performance and quality of life of nursing-home residents with mild and moderate dementia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aims of this study were to describe the quality of life (QoL) of nursing-home residents with dementia and their balance, mobility, muscle strength and daily life activity, as well as to examine the associations between QoL and levels of balance, mobility, muscle strength and daily life activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study is cross sectional, and 170 nursing-home residents with dementia were included.
  
  
  METHODS
  "The quality of life in late-stage dementia scale" (QUALID), Berg Balance Scale, comfortable walking speed, maximum walking speed, 30-s sit-to-stand, Barthel Index, Clinical Dementia Rating Scale, the Clock Drawing Test and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our study showed that nursing-home residents with dementia are a heterogeneous group regarding registrations of QUALID and physical function measures. The scores on the QUALID ranged from 11 to 41 points. Higher scores on the 30-s sit-to-stand and Berg Balance Scale were associated with a better QUALID. For comfortable, as well as maximum, walking speed there was a trend towards better QUALID results for those participants with higher walking speed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Good muscle strength and balance were the most important physical performance variables significantly associated with a good QUALID score.
authors: Faculty of Health Sciences, Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences; Oslo 0130, Norway. elisabeth-wiken.telenius@hioa.no.
authors: Elisabeth Wiken
authors: EW
authors: Telenius
authors: Knut
authors: K
authors: Engedal
authors: Astrid
authors: A
authors: Bergland
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009664:Norway; D009735:Nursing Homes; D004856:Postural Balance; D011788:Quality of Life; D016138:Walking