title: Activity Engagement: Perspectives from Nursing Home Residents with Dementia.
abstract: Engagement in social and leisure activities is an indicator of quality of life and well-being in nursing homes. There are few studies in which nursing home residents with dementia self-reported their experiences in activity engagement. This qualitative study describes types of current activity involvement and barriers to activities as perceived by nursing home residents with dementia. Thirty-one residents participated in short, open-ended interviews and six in in-depth interviews. Thematic content analysis showed that participants primarily depended on activities organized by their nursing homes. Few participants engaged in self-directed activities such as walking, visiting other residents and family members, and attending in church services. Many residents felt they had limited opportunities and motivation for activities. They missed past hobbies greatly but could not continue them due to lack of accommodation and limitation in physical function. Environmental factors, along with fixed activity schedule, further prevented them from engaging in activities. Residents with dementia should be invited to participate in activity planning and have necessary assistance and accommodation in order to engage in activities that matter to them. Based on the findings, a checklist for individualizing and evaluating activities for persons with dementia is detailed.
authors.affiliation: Professor, Chair of Excellence, Associate Dean for Research, Loewenberg School of Nursing, The University of Memphis,102 Newport Hall, Memphis, TN 38152.
authors.forename: Sunghee H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Tak
authors.affiliation: Professor, School of Public Health, The University of Memphis, 205 Robison Hall, Memphis, TN 38152.
authors.forename: Satish
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kedia
authors.affiliation: Research Assistant, School of Public Health, The University of Memphis, 120 Robison Hall, Memphis, TN 38152.
authors.forename: Tera Marie
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Tongumpun
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, College of Pharmacy, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 881 Madison Ave. Memphis, TN 38163.
authors.forename: Song Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hong