The relation between mood, activity, and interaction in long-term dementia care.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study is to identify the degree of association between mood, activity engagement, activity location, and social interaction during everyday life of people with dementia (PwD) living in long-term care facilities.


METHODS
An observational study using momentary assessments was conducted. For all 115 participants, 84 momentary assessments of mood, engagement in activity, location during activity, and social interaction were carried out by a researcher using the tablet-based Maastricht Electronic Daily Life Observation-tool.


RESULTS
A total of 9660 momentary assessments were completed. The mean age of the 115 participants was 84 and most (75%) were women. A negative, neutral, or positive mood was recorded during 2%, 25%, and 73% of the observations, respectively. Positive mood was associated with engagement in activities, doing activities outside, and social interaction. The type of activity was less important for mood than the fact that PwD were engaged in an activity. Low mood was evident when PwD attempted to have social interaction but received no response.


CONCLUSIONS
Fulfilling PwD's need for occupation and social interaction is consistent with a person-centred dementia care focus and should have priority in dementia care.
a Department of Health Services Research, CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences , Maastricht University , Maastricht , The Netherlands.
Hanneke C
HC
Beerens
a Department of Health Services Research, CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences , Maastricht University , Maastricht , The Netherlands.
Sandra M G
SMG
Zwakhalen
a Department of Health Services Research, CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences , Maastricht University , Maastricht , The Netherlands.
Hilde
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3740-5162
H
Verbeek
b Department of Methodology & Statistics, CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences , Maastricht University, Maastricht , The Netherlands.
Frans
F
E S Tan
b Department of Methodology & Statistics, CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences , Maastricht University, Maastricht , The Netherlands.
Shahab
S
Jolani
c School of Dementia Studies, Faculty of Health Studies , University of Bradford , Bradford , United Kingdom.
Murna
M
Downs
a Department of Health Services Research, CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences , Maastricht University , Maastricht , The Netherlands.
Bram
B
de Boer
a Department of Health Services Research, CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences , Maastricht University , Maastricht , The Netherlands.
Dirk
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4887-8413
D
Ruwaard
a Department of Health Services Research, CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences , Maastricht University , Maastricht , The Netherlands.
Jan P H
JPH
Hamers
D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003704:Dementia / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D000072860:Ecological Momentary Assessment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D058992:Social Participation
Dementia; long-term care; mood; observations; quality of life