Correlates of Social Engagement in Nursing Home Residents with Dementia

Abstract

The study provided information about the correlates of social engagement in NH residents with dementia. Future research needs to be conducted to develop nursing interventions to involve these individuals in social activities tailored to functional levels, and depression in more diverse geographic regions.

Inactive Residents Living in Nursing Homes and Associated Predictors: Findings From a Regional-Based, Italian Retrospective Study

“…1,6,13,18,38 Also, the occurrence of behavioral disorders, such as night restlessness, verbal/physical aggressiveness, lack of cooperation in daily care, and clinical problems (eg, pressure sores, clinical instability), were significantly higher among inactive residents compared with active residents. Inactive residents also reported a higher severity of pain, and they were less frequently on ant-pain medication compared with active residents.…”

“…Previous studies measured resident participation in some daily activities, such as watching TV, performing ADLs or instrumental ADLs, [4][5] and the association between activity and some sociodemographic (eg, race 18 ) or clinical data (eg, wandering, dementia). 6,10,13,20 Further studies have also explored the effects of some programs aimed at maintaining 32 or enhancing activity engagement 33,34 ; moreover, other studies have measured the effects of activity on neuropsychiatric symptoms 35 and on the quality of life. 36,37 However, a few studies to date have compared the whole profile (eg, functional dependence, cognitive, emotional) of inactive residents with those of active residents, with respect to different types of activities, considering also NH characteristics among the predictors.…”

“…Thus, frail residents, being functionally, clinically or cognitively compromised, are more likely to be inactive; these are also the residents who are often not capable of expressing their needs (eg, pain control) and/or wishes (which kind of activities they prefer), and this may reduce their engagement both in social and individual activities. 6 The lack of individual and social stimuli among inactive residents could simultaneously be seen as a cause and an effect of functional and cognitive decline. 39 With regard to residents who require greater professional care, because of the personnel shortages often reported at the NH levels, the staff may perceive resident engagement as an additional burden and a time-consuming task.…”

“…For example, a significant association between sensory (hearing, vision, communication), 17 cognitive impairment, 6,13,18 and resident inactivity has been documented. Moreover, some clinical conditions, such as depressive symptoms, 6,19 wandering behavior, 10 and dementia, 6,13,20 have been found to increase the occurrence of inactivity. However, to date, limited attention has been devoted to the role of NH-level predictors of resident inactivity on a large scale, 18 including a multilevel analysis of NH-facility levels variables and individual factors.…”

“…1e5 Gottesman and Bourestom 4 defined the concept of inactivity among NHs residents as the time spent doing nothing or engaging in passive activities, such as waiting, sleeping, and/or fidgeting. Several negative consequences have been documented among inactive NH residents, such as increased functional decline, increased behavioral disorders (eg, agitation, apathy), 6 and depressive symptoms, 7 which may also increase nursing staff workloads. 5 In contrast, high levels of engagement in both individually (eg, reading) and socially based activities (eg, group activities) have been associated with decreased agitation and psychotropic medications, increased resident quality of life 8e10 and satisfaction among resident families.…”