Does Social Interaction Matter Psychological Well-Being in Persons With Dementia?

Background: Social interaction between residents and staff is an important factor influencing sense of well-being. This study examined the relationship between staff-resident interactions and psychological well-being of persons with dementia.

Methods: A total of 831 observations of 110 persons with dementia in 17 nursing homes and 6 assisted living facilities were included.

Is an Engaging or Soothing Environment Associated With the Psychological Well-Being of People With Dementia in Long-Term Care?

Purpose: To examine the relationship between environmental ambience and psychological well-being of persons with dementia.

Design: A secondary analysis was conducted using observational data with repeated measures. A total of 1,857 observations from 177 persons with dementia in 17 nursing homes and 6 assisted living facilities were included.

Caregiver and care recipient characteristics as predictors of psychotropic medication use in community-dwelling dementia patients.

Objectives: The current practice of prescribing psychotropic medication for the management of dementia-related behavioral disturbances is under substantial debate. Using Pearlin's stress process model as theoretical underpinning, the aim of this investigation is to identify caregiver and care recipient characteristics as predictors of anxiolytic, antipsychotic, and antidepressant use among community-dwelling dementia patients. We hypothesized that caregiving burden and patient characteristics, particularly behavior disturbances and pain, would be positively associated with psychotropic medication use.

The Association Between Characteristics of Care Environments and Apathy in Residents With Dementia in Long-term Care Facilities.

Purpose: Apathy is highly prevalent in dementia but often overlooked. Environment-based interventions have demonstrated positive impact on apathy, yet, influential environmental components are largely understudied. This study examined the relationship between care environments and apathy in long-term care residents with dementia.

Developing the Person-Environment Apathy Rating for persons with dementia.

Objectives: To develop the Person-Environment Apathy Rating (PEAR) scale that measures environmental stimulation and apathy in persons with dementia and to evaluate its psychometrics.

Method: The PEAR scale consists of the PEAR-Environment subscale and PEAR-Apathy subscales. The items were developed via literature review, field testing, expert review, and pilot testing.

Pain and psychological well-being among people with dementia in long-term care.

Objective: To examine the relationship between self-reported pain and psychological well-being of people with dementia (PWD) living in residential long-term care as indicated by displays of observed emotional expression over the daytime period.

Design: Secondary analysis using repeated measures of self-report and observational data.

Setting And Subjects: A total of 177 PWD were included from 17 nursing homes and six assisted living facilities in Michigan and Pennsylvania.

Daytime observed emotional expressions of people with dementia.

Background: Emotional expression among people with dementia (PWD) may inform person-centered approaches to care and improvements in dementia-related quality of life.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine frequency and variability of positive and negative emotional expressions, personal factors influencing positive and negative emotional expressions, and trajectories of emotional expression among PWD during daytime hours.

Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of daytime positive and negative emotional expressions of 30 PWD living in residential long-term care who completed twelve 20-minute observation periods occurring hourly as part of a multi-site study of wandering behavior.

Relationship between observable emotional expression and wandering behavior of people with dementia.

Objective: This study explored the relationship between observable emotional expression and wandering behaviors of people with dementia (PWD).

Methods: A secondary data analysis was conducted of a multi-site study that used a cross-sectional design with repeated measures nested within subjects. Participants included 142 PWD residing in 17 nursing homes and six assisted-living facilities in Michigan and Pennsylvania who were randomly assigned to six 20-min videotaped observation periods, conducted on two non-consecutive days.

Fall risk-relevant functional mobility outcomes in dementia following dyadic tai chi exercise.

Whether persons with dementia benefit from fall prevention exercise is unclear. Applying the Positive Emotion-Motivated Tai Chi protocol, preliminary findings concerning adherence and effects of a dyadic Tai Chi exercise program on persons with Alzheimer's disease (AD) are reported. Using pre/posttest design, 22 community-dwelling AD-caregiver dyads participated in the program.