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Dementia care in assisted living: needs and challenges
Marianne Smith1, Kathleen C Buckwalter, Hyunwook Kang
1University of Iowa, College of Nursing, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA. Marianne-smith@uiowa.edu
Issues in Mental Health Nursing
|July 24, 2008
Summary
Assisted living residents with dementia often have moderate to severe symptoms and high psychotropic medication use. This pilot study assessed research methods for this population in assisted living facilities.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Psychiatric Nursing
- Long-Term Care Research
Background:
- Assisted living (AL) is a growing long-term care choice for seniors with dementia.
- A significant majority of AL residents have dementia, with high rates of behavioral symptoms and psychotropic drug use.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility of research methodologies within assisted living settings.
- To characterize the dementia severity and medication profiles of residents in assisted living.
Main Methods:
- Pilot study exploring research feasibility in AL facilities.
- Descriptive and qualitative data collection including health records and caregiver perceptions.
- Assessment of practical challenges for research in AL environments.
Main Results:
- Most AL residents with dementia exhibit moderate to severe cognitive impairment.
- The majority of residents are prescribed at least one psychotropic medication.
- Feasibility of various assessment methods was evaluated.
Conclusions:
- Assisted living facilities house a population with significant dementia-related needs.
- Psychotropic medication use is prevalent among AL residents with dementia.
- Findings inform psychiatric nursing practice and future research in AL settings.
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