Freedom of Movement, Activity and Quality of Life in Nursing Home Residents with Dementia: A Case Study

Objective: There is growing evidence that freedom of movement inside and outside the nursing home has a positive effect on the Quality of Life (QoL) of people with dementia. The participants in this study were living in nursing homes with either ‘freedom of movement’ or ‘restricted movement’. The level of physical activity, QoL, and how these differed in the two nursing home situations was examined. Furthermore, it was tested whether there was a correlation between physical activity level and QoL for both nursing home situations. Method: A questionnaire with nine subscales was used to measure QoL for people with dementia (QUALIDEM). The Maastricht Electronic Daily Life Observation (MEDLO) tool was used to measure physical activity levels during social activities. Results: For this study 81 nursing home patients with dementia were included (mean age ‘restricted movement’, 84 years; 33 females [69%]; mean age ‘freedom of movement’, 83 years; 20 females [83%]). Both QoL and activity...Show moreObjective: There is growing evidence that freedom of movement inside and outside the nursing home has a positive effect on the Quality of Life (QoL) of people with dementia. The participants in this study were living in nursing homes with either ‘freedom of movement’ or ‘restricted movement’. The level of physical activity, QoL, and how these differed in the two nursing home situations was examined. Furthermore, it was tested whether there was a correlation between physical activity level and QoL for both nursing home situations. Method: A questionnaire with nine subscales was used to measure QoL for people with dementia (QUALIDEM). The Maastricht Electronic Daily Life Observation (MEDLO) tool was used to measure physical activity levels during social activities. Results: For this study 81 nursing home patients with dementia were included (mean age ‘restricted movement’, 84 years; 33 females [69%]; mean age ‘freedom of movement’, 83 years; 20 females [83%]). Both QoL and activity level data was available for six participants from the ‘restricted movement’ situation and thirteen participants from the ‘freedom of movement’ situation. No significant differences between the two situations for QoL and activity level were found. Also, no significant correlation was found between activity level and QoL for the two situations. As a consequence of this non-significant correlation, it was decided that the moderation by situation would not be tested. Conclusion: Participants did not show a difference in activity level or QoL between the two nursing home situations (‘freedom of movement’, ‘restricted movement’). A relation between activity level and QoL could not be confirmed for either nursing home situation. Additional research is needed with a sample size providing sufficient statistical power. Furthermore, mediation needs to be included in the hypothesized model with depression and activities of daily life (ADL) as mediators for QoL.Show less

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Freedom of Movement, Activity and Quality of Life in Nursing Home Residents with Dementia: A Case Study