Small-Scale Living Environments' Impact on Positive Behaviors and Quality of Life for Residents with Dementia

Abstract

This study explored the relationship of the environment in small-scaled nursing homes and positive behaviors on the residents' quality of life (QOL). The Environmental Assessment Tool-Higher Care was used to evaluate unit environments. Dementia Care Mapping was used to observe 113 residents' positive behaviors. Hierarchical linear modeling analysis showed that residents living in a dementia-friendly environment showed a significant correlation between their positive behaviors and QOL. In contrast, a non-dementia-friendly environment showed no notable impact upon their QOL despite the high/low frequency of positive behaviors. It is crucial to prioritize a comprehensive facility environment review to support residents' QOL.

Keywords:

• Dementia Care Mapping
• Environmental Assessment Tool-Higher Care
• hierarchical linear modeling
• Japan
• positive behavior
• small-scale living nursing facility

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank facility directors and aging experts for their contributions to this study. Our gratitude to all the professors in the Gerontology Department of J.F. Oberlin University, Tokyo, especially Drs. Hisao Osada, Shuichiro Watanabe, and Hidehiro Sugisawa. Special thanks to Dr. Kei Adachi, Ms Yasuko Murata, and Dr. Yumiko Hashimoto.

Disclosure statement

The authors reported no potential conflict of interest.

Data availability statement

Due to the nature of this research, participants of this study did not agree for their data to be shared publicly, so supporting data is not available.