Activity involvement and quality of life of people at different stages of dementia in long term care facilities

Abstract

Activity involvement seems to be a small yet important contributor to higher well-being in long-term care resident at all stages of dementia. Adjusting activities to individual preferences and capabilities might enlarge this relationship. Further research is needed to confirm this hypothesis, using measurement instruments less sensitive to recall bias and differentiating between the active and passive activity involvement.

The relation between mood, activity, and interaction in long-term dementia care

“…For example, residents were rated as engaged when they focused clearly on others who did an activity, whereas other studies regarded this as inactivity (den Ouden et al, 2015;Wood et al, 2005). Our finding that activity engagement is associated with better mood is in line with other empirical studies (Schreiner et al, 2005;Smit et al, 2015). Kitwood's theory on psychological needs (Kitwood, 1997b) also shows that occupationdefined as engagement in the process of daily life in a way that is personally relevantis a key psychological need.…”

“…These measures may be influenced by proxies' feelings of burden or distress (Arons, Krabbe, Scholzel-Dorenbos, van der Wilt, & Olde Rikkert, 2013;Sands, Ferreira, Stewart, Brod, & Yaffe, 2004). In addition, questionnaires are prone to recall bias (Bolger & Laurenceau, 2013), which may for example affect estimates of the time spent in activities (Smit, de Lange, Willemse, Twisk, & Pot, 2015). The current study was designed to address these gaps in knowledge.…”

In search for the “humane”: staffs’ perspectives on everyday activities in a nursing home

“…Our research proposes to acknowledge the concept of interdependence (Perkins, Ball, Whittington, & Hollingsworth, 2012) that captures more accurately the necessary conditions for collaborative practices with NH residents (Abbott, Fisk, & Forward, 2000;Backhouse et al, 2016;Hyd en 2011Hyd en , 2014Katz, Conant, Inui, Baron, & Bor, 2000). Engagement in everyday activities serves as a clear example of interdependence and has been identified as playing a pivotal role in upholding quality of life (Bj€ ork et al, 2017;Edvardsson, Fetherstonhaugh, & Nay, 2010;Edvardsson, Petersson, Sj€ ogren, Lindkvist, & Sandman, 2014;Green & Acheson Cooper, 2000;Harmer & Orrell, 2008;Popham & Orrell, 2012;Smit, de Lange, Willemse, Twisk, & Pot, 2016), well-being (Bergland & Kirkevold, 2006;Chung, 2004;Hasselkus & Murray, 2007;O'Sullivan, 2011) and identity preservation (Beard & Fox, 2008;Cohen-Mansfield, Parpura-Gill, & Golander, 2006;Moyle et al, 2011;Phinney, Chaudhury, & O'Connor, 2007) among NHs residents. For NH residents, engaging in everyday activities increasingly requires cooperation with others in order to take place (Baur & Abma, 2012;Baur, Abma, Boelsma, & Woelders, 2013;Mondaca, Josephsson, Borell, Katz, & Rosenberg, 2018).…”

Communicative Behaviors Elicited by Leisure Activities in Memory Care Units

“…Participation in stimulating activities is generally beneficial to mental health and cognitive function, as is social engagement with peers [4,11]. In addition, activities help residents maintain the ability to perform daily living ac-tivities, [11] and engaging in activities is associated with fewer anxious behaviors [12], while a lack of activity has been linked to more behavioral problems, isolation, lower cognitive function and reduced quality of life [4]. Activities in which PWDs are interacting with others in a supportive environment (i.e., group activities) provide opportunities for practicing appropriate behavior, promoting physical function, interpersonal management strategies and communication.…”

“…Activities in which PWDs are interacting with others in a supportive environment (i.e., group activities) provide opportunities for practicing appropriate behavior, promoting physical function, interpersonal management strategies and communication. Well-designed activities therefore have a positive influence on social-affective functioning [4,12].…”