AD Lib

ID: 09477
Title:Environmental Correlates to Behavioral Health Outcomes in Alzheimer's Special Care Units.
Publication Year: 2003.
Format(s): Journal Article , Funded Research
Language(s): English
Audience(s): Gerontologists , Nursing Homes , Planners , Environmentalists , Special Care Units
Author(s): Zeisel, J., et al.
Source: Gerontologist. 43(5): 697-711. 2003.

Abstract: This article examines the association between environmental design features of nursing home special care units and the incidence of aggression, agitation, social withdrawal, depression, and psychotic problems among residents with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or related dementia. Hierarchical linear modeling techniques were used to assess associations between seven design features and behavioral measures for 427 residents in 15 special care units, with statistical controls included for the influence of cognitive status, need for assistance with activities of daily living, prescription drug use, amount of staff training in AD, and staff to resident ratio. Results revealed associations between behavioral health measures and certain environmental design features, as well as between behavioral health measures and both resident and nonenvironmental facility variables. The environmental features associated with reduced aggressive and agitated behavior include privacy and personalization in bedrooms, residential character, and an ambient environment that residents can understand. Features associated with reduced depression, social withdrawal, misidentification, and hallucinations include common areas that vary in ambience and exit doors that are camouflaged. The results suggest that certain features of the physical environment in special care units can improve the behavioral health of residents with AD. 7 tables, 41 references.

Major Descriptor(s): ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE , BEHAVIOR-PROBLEMS , BEHAVIORS , INDOOR-ENVIRONMENTS , NURSING-HOMES , SPECIAL-CARE-UNITS
Minor Descriptor(s):

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