NCT00388544

Enhancing Quality of Life for Nursing Home Residents

A Prescription for Enhancing Resident Quality of Life

• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 128 (actual)
• Sponsor: Penn State University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Many persons with dementia exhibit behaviors that caregivers find difficult to manage. The purpose of this study is to test the effectiveness of individualized recreational activities for reducing agitation and passivity in persons with dementia.

Detailed description

Most persons with dementia exhibit behavioral symptoms, such as agitation and passivity, at some time in the course of their illness. These behaviors are a source of caregiver burden and often precipitate nursing home placement. There are a number of drugs that can be used to treat these behaviors, but they are costly and have serious adverse effects in a sizable number of people. Non-drug interventions, such as recreational activities, are recommended as the first line of treatment for behavioral symptoms. However, we don't know which activities are most effective for individual residents. The "one size fits all" approach has not been very effective. We are testing an approach that individualizes activities for residents based on their personality style of interest and functional level. We anticipate that this approach will be more effective for reducing behavioral symptoms than routine activities given to all residents. Consenting residents are assessed for personality and functional level and are videotaped during a baseline period and during activities so we can reliably measure behaviors, affect and engagement.

Conditions

• Alzheimer's Disease

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Activity matched to interest	Recreational activities are tailored to subject's style of interest
BEHAVIORAL	Activity matched to function	Recreational activities are tailored to subjects physical and cognitive functioning
BEHAVIORAL	Activity matched to both interest and function	Recreational activities are tailored to both style of interest and physical and cognitive functioning.

Timeline

• Start date: 2005-05-01
• Primary completion: 2010-02-01
• Completion: 2010-02-01
• First posted: 2006-10-17
• Last updated: 2012-05-09

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States