Enriching opportunities for people living with dementia in nursing homes: An evaluation of a multi-level activity-based model of care

Abstract

This paper reports on the evaluation of the Enriched Opportunities Programme in improving well-being, diversity of activity, health, and staff practice in nursing home care for people with dementia. Participants were 127 residents with a diagnosis of dementia or enduring mental health problems in three specialist nursing homes in the UK. A repeated measures within-subjects design was employed, collecting quantitative and qualitative data at three points over a twelve-month period in each facility with follow-up 7 to 14 months later. Two-way ANOVAs revealed a statistically significant increase in levels of observed well-being and in diversity of activity following the intervention. There was a statistically significant increase in the number of positive staff interventions but no change in the number of negative staff interventions overall. There was a significant reduction in levels of depression. No significant changes in anxiety, health status, hospitalisations, or psychotropic medication usage were observed. The Enriched Opportunities Programme demonstrated a positive impact on the lives of people with dementia in nursing homes already offering a relatively good standard of care, in a short period of time. The refined programme requires further evaluation to establish its portability.

Acknowledgements

Thanks to all the residents and staff at ExtraCare Charitable Trust, particularly Emmett McNamee for his assistance with data collection. Thanks also to Professor Rob Newell, University of Bradford for statistical advice. Thanks to all those in the Expert Working Group who shaped and guided this development.

Notes

Notes

[1]  Activities less likely to promote well-being, those to do with everyday care such as eating or physical care were excluded from the calculation.

[2]  Six could be interviewed at one stage only (two before and four after the Intervention) suggesting other reasons for non-completion.