The Impact of Individualized Interaction on the Quality of Life of Elderly Dependent on Care as a Result of Dementia: A Study with a Pre-Post Design

Background: The aim was to assess the impact of a one-to-one 30-min individualized interaction per day on the behavior and quality of life of care-dependent residents with dementia. Methods: In a pre-/post-test study, 15 care-dependent residents with dementia (mean age 88.8 years, 86.7% women) were...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders 2015-05, Vol.39 (5-6), p.272-280
Main Authors: de Vocht, Hilde M., Hoogeboom, A.M.G. Marcella, van Niekerk, Bob, den Ouden, Marjolein E.M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Attitude of Health Personnel
Behavior
Care and treatment
Dementia
Dementia - nursing
Dementia - psychology
Female
Geriatric nursing
Health aspects
Humans
Interviews as Topic
Male
Nurse-Patient Relations
Nurses
Nursing Homes
Original Research Article
Psychological aspects
Quality of Life
Social aspects
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Summary:Background: The aim was to assess the impact of a one-to-one 30-min individualized interaction per day on the behavior and quality of life of care-dependent residents with dementia. Methods: In a pre-/post-test study, 15 care-dependent residents with dementia (mean age 88.8 years, 86.7% women) were included. Resident behavior was measured using video observation and quality of life using Qualidem. Health care professionals (n = 13) and direct relatives (n = 4) were interviewed about the effect of the intervention. The effect of the intervention was analyzed using the Friedman analysis of variance. Results: The video observation showed that maintaining eye contact, touching, responding to speaking, tracking observable stimuli and asking questions about the activity significantly increased during the intervention. These findings were supported by interviews with nurses who described experiences of making human-to-human contact with the residents. No significant overall changes were found in quality of life. These findings were partially supported by interviews with health care professionals and relatives as some perceived effects beyond the 30-min intervention. Conclusions: Interaction offered on a one-to-one basis tailored to individual preferences significantly improved positive interactive behavior of care-dependent residents with dementia during the intervention. Surveys revealed no significant overall effect of the intervention. The interviews indicated there might be effects beyond the intervention for some residents.
ISSN:1420-8008
1421-9824
DOI:10.1159/000371874