The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

Change in quality of life of people with dementia recently admitted to long-term care facilities

På svenska

Author

  • Hanneke C. Beerens
  • Sandra M. G. Zwakhalen
  • Hilde Verbeek
  • Dirk Ruwaard
  • Antonius W. Ambergen
  • Helena Leino-Kilpi
  • Astrid Stephan
  • Adelaida Zabalegui
  • Maria Soto
  • Kai Saks
  • Christina Bökberg
  • Caroline L. Sutcliffe
  • Jan P. H. Hamers
Show all

Summary, in English

AimTo assess which factors are associated with change in quality of life of people with dementia who have recently been admitted to long-term care facilities. BackgroundMany people with dementia will be admitted to long-term care facilities at some point during their disease. It is currently unknown which factors are associated with improvement and/or deterioration of quality of life immediately following admission. DesignAn observational and longitudinal survey. MethodsData on 343 people with dementia who have been recently admitted to long-term care facilities across eight European countries were collected between November 2010-April 2012. Quality of life was assessed by people with dementia and their proxies using the Quality of Life-Alzheimer's Disease scale'. Explanatory variables included cognitive status, comorbidities, activities of daily living, depressive symptoms and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Descriptive and multilevel regression analyses were performed. ResultsBetter cognitive abilities at baseline were associated with a decrease in self-reported quality of life. Greater dependency and more depressive symptoms at baseline were associated with declined proxy-reported quality of life. Furthermore, an increased dependency and an increase of depressive symptoms between baseline and follow-up were associated with a decreased proxy-reported quality of life. On an individual level, three groups were identified, namely people whose quality of life: (1) decreased; (2) stayed the same; and (3) increased. ConclusionCognitive functioning, functional rehabilitation and treatment of depressive symptoms should receive special attention. However, quality of life of people with dementia does not necessarily decrease after institutionalization.

Department/s

  • Older people's health and Person-Centred care

Publishing year

2015

Language

English

Pages

1435-1447

Publication/Series

Journal of Advanced Nursing

Volume

71

Issue

6

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Wiley-Blackwell

Topic

  • Nursing

Keywords

  • admission
  • dementia
  • Europe
  • longitudinal study
  • long-term care
  • nursing
  • home
  • nursing research
  • quality of life
  • residential facility
  • transition

Status

Published

Research group

  • Older people's health and Person-Centred care

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0309-2402