An exploration of occupation in nursing home residents with dementia

Morgan-Brown, M; Ormerod, M; Newton, R; Manley, D

Abstract

Objectives: This study evaluated the sitting room environment of two nursing homes
in Ireland, using interactive occupation and social engagement as outcome measures
and defining these rooms as occupational spaces.
Method: Snapshot observational recordings were made in the main sitting rooms
during the periods of time when the rooms were in most active use. Narrative
information was also recorded.
Results: Residents were more likely to occupy their time in the main sitting room
passively, rather than in interactive occupation and social engagement. The nursing
home residents with dementia spent approximately 70% of their daily time in the
main sitting room areas in states of occupational disengagement.
Discussion: Additional insight is provided through pragmatic narrative descriptions
of the functioning of the main sitting room environment in terms of interactive
occupation and social engagement.
Relevance: The research study demonstrates a methodology for evaluating the
sitting room areas of a care environment, using interactive occupation and social
engagement as outcome measures,which can be used for descriptive and comparative
insights into the performance of care environments.

Citation

Morgan-Brown, M., Ormerod, M., Newton, R., & Manley, D. An exploration of occupation in nursing home residents with dementia. https://doi.org/10.4276/030802211X13046730116452

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Deposit Date: Jul 25, 2012
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 5, 2016
• Journal: The British Journal of Occupational Therapy
• Print ISSN: 03080226
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 74
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 217-225
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4276/030802211X13046730116452
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.4276/030802211X13046730116452