'HAVING SOMETHING MEANINGFUL TO DO' SHOULD BE CORRELATED WITH QUALITY OF LIFE IN RESIDENTIAL CARE, BUT IT ISN'T…. WHERE DO WE FAIL?

Background: Engagement in meaningful activities of daily living (MADL) optimizes people’s Quality of Life (QoL). This study explores the meaningfulness of activities of nursing home residents’ (NHR) and its correlation to... [ view full abstract ]

Background:
Engagement in meaningful activities of daily living (MADL) optimizes people’s Quality of Life (QoL). This study explores the meaningfulness of activities of nursing home residents’ (NHR) and its correlation to QoL.
Method:
A survey was administered to 143 cognitively healthy NHR (M 85 years ±5.72; 43 men; 100 women) including cognitive, functional and mobility evaluations, a MADL questionnaire and the Anamnestic-Comparative-Self-Assessment (ACSA) for QoL.
Results:
NHR reported a QoL of 1.78 (range -5+5; modus 3) and an important loss of MADL since their admission in the NH (household M 4.39±1,73 and leisure M 15.87±7.29). Selfcare-activities remained intact although help was needed. 38 respondents gained ‘new’ activities (e.g. making crosswords, using a computer). Participants scored low on their activity-performance (4.5/10), performance-satisfaction (5.3/10) and the activity-challenge (5.4/10). Inhibiting and facilitating factors were related to the capacities of the NHR, the support of the environment and the organized activities, experienced as unchallenging. No correlations were found between QoL and the number of MADL, performance nor satisfaction. A small, although significant correlation was observed between QoL, ‘activities according to the individual wishes’ (r=.272; p<0.05) and ‘activities within the neighbourhood’ (r=.167; p<0.05).
Conclusion:
Professionals are expected to enable MADL and to promote NHR’ autonomy and QoL. Based on our study, this appears, however, to be hardly the case. It remains a challenge to identify the needs of NHR and enable them to engage in MADL.
Application to Practice:
An approach guiding NHs to develop a creative and innovative attitude towards NHR’ MADL is needed.