Understanding Capacity and Optimizing Meaningful Engagement among Persons Living with Dementia.

Meaningful engagement is a key dimension of quality of life among persons living with dementia, yet little is known about how to best to promote it. Guided by grounded theory methods, we present analysis of data collected over a 1-year period in four diverse assisted living (AL) communities as part of the study, "Meaningful Engagement and Quality of Life among Assisted Living Residents with Dementia." Our aims are to: (a) learn how meaningful engagement is negotiated among AL residents with dementia and their care partners; and (b) identify how to create these positive encounters.

Meaningful Engagement Among Assisted Living Residents With Dementia: Successful Approaches.

Meaningful engagement is an important dimension of quality of life and care for persons living with dementia, including the growing number who reside in assisted living communities. This report presents preliminary findings from an ongoing qualitative study aimed at identifying best care practices to create and maintain meaningful engagement among persons with dementia. Over a 1-year period, we conducted interviews, residents' record review, and participant observations in four diverse care communities.