The impact of cost-effective dementia friendly environments on occupational participation and agitation in people with dementia in residential care: A pilot study

Background A fundamental characteristic of occupational therapy practice is promoting optimal occupational performance within one’s environment. A combination of person-centred, environmental and occupation related factors... [ view full abstract ]

Background
A fundamental characteristic of occupational therapy practice is promoting optimal occupational performance within one’s environment. A combination of person-centred, environmental and occupation related factors impact one’s ability to engage in everyday activities. There is a growing body of evidence on the efficacy of dementia-friendly environments, many of which have had large budgets and implemented high-cost interventions. Therapists are challenged to respond to increased scrutiny of costs and other resource constraints as well as rising expectations from service users.

This study employed a mixed methods design to explore the impact that making the environment dementia-friendly has on patients with a diagnosis of dementia in a residential care home. A dementia-friendly environment which aimed to improve mood, independence and participation with ADL’s and decrease the frequency of agitated behaviours in participants was developed. Measures of behaviour and agitation were taken before and after the change. Interviews were also conducted to gain an insight into the nursing staffs' perspective on the effectiveness of this intervention and how they feel it benefits the person and care they can provide.

Overall, levels of agitation and other neuropsychiatric symptoms reduced in participants following the intervention period. A slight increase was also noted in levels of occupational participation.

Implications
One of the unique aspects of this research project is that it implemented these interventions with minimal start-up or running costs, implications of which are that interventions will be readily available and cost-effective, entities that would be transferable to and applicable in the majority of healthcare settings.