Changes in interactive occupation and social engagement for people with dementia : comparing household to traditional nursing home environments in Ireland

Morgan-Brown, M

Abstract

AIM: To understand and evaluate the effect of a change from a Traditional Model Unit
(TMU) to a Household Model Unit (HMU) for people with dementia, using social
engagement and interactive occupation of residents, staff and relatives as outcome
measures, in order to make recommendations for future nursing home development.
Methods: A mixed methods approach was adopted. Residents, staff and relatives were
observed using a snapshot observational method for 11 days pre renovation and 14 days
post renovation. Pre renovation interviews with staff (n=25) and relatives (n=22) were
contrasted with 19 staff and 14 relatives post renovation interviews.
Results: Residents spent more time in the HMU communal living spaces (p≤.001). They
were more independently active (p≤.001), more socially engaged (p≤.001) and more
involved in interactive occupations (p≤.001).
There were significant increases in the time that staff spent in the room (p≤.001), being
socially engaged with residents (p≤.001), and performing their work tasks (p≤.001).
The data set for relatives was smaller and significance was only achieved in an aggregated
grouping engaged and interactive category (p≤.05).
Qualitative interview data was used to elaborate on this quantitative data. The interview
data was condensed into a multi-component typology of HMU features for future
comparison and research.
Conclusion: Adopting an HMU environment created behavioural changes in interactive
occupation and social engagement of residents, staff and relatives utilizing the main sitting
areas. The physical, operation and social environments which created these changes are
described in detail. Recommendations are made for nursing home environments and future
research.

Citation

Morgan-Brown, M. Changes in interactive occupation and social engagement for people with dementia : comparing household to traditional nursing home environments in Ireland. (Thesis). University of Salford

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Nov 8, 2013
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 8, 2013
• Keywords: environment analysis, environment design, alzheimer's disease, residential care