The Effect of Movement-oriented Dementia Care on ADL and QoL of Dementia Patients in Nursing Homes

Background:

In the Netherlands, an estimated number of 70.000 patients with dementia are institutionalized. This number is expected to increase rapidly in the coming years due to the aging population. Loss of independence in activities of daily living (ADL) is an important predictor for institutionalization and an important determinant for the quality of life. Once institutionalized, independence in ADL tends to decline even more rapid.This rapid decline may be due to insufficient stimulation of the patients' remaining abilities. Underestimating the patient's abilities may contribute to the inactive lifestyle in nursing homes. An inactive lifestyle negatively affects multiple disease outcomes. In the present study, movement-oriented dementia care (MDC) is implemented on psychogeriatric wards of a Dutch nursing home. MDC focuses on the integration of physical activity in the daily lives of nursing home residents with dementia. The key element of MDC is the multidisciplinary approach to ensure physical stimulation at all times. The following disciplines are involved in MDC: nursing staff, department heads, paramedics (physiotherapists and occupational therapists), psychologists, geriatrics specialists, activity leaders, volunteers and family caregivers. The primary aim is to evaluate the effect of MDC on ADL independence and quality of life. Additionally, the effect on mood, behaviour, cognition, and physical fitness is investigated.

The present study was a non-randomized 12-month longitudinal study with two parallel groups. The study was approved by the Medical Ethical Exam Committee (METc) of the VUmc.

Participants were residents from five psychogeriatric wards of two locations of nursing home Solis in Deventer. All participants were diagnosed with dementia.

Recruitment: In the first place, the staff of Nursing home Solis was informed about the intervention. Consequently, an initial selection of suitable clients took place. Clients receiving palliative care did not participate in the study. Suitable clients and their caregivers were informed about the study by means of an informative presentation as well as an informative letter in which clients and their caregivers were asked to give informed consent.

Randomisation:Two locations of nursing home Solis were non-randomly allocated to the experimental or control condition. Participants living at the experimental location received movement-oriented dementia care (MDC), while participants living at the control location received care as usual.

Procedure: Movement-oriented Dementia Care was given to as many residents as possible from the psychogeriatric wards of the intervention location. In order to properly implement movement-oriented care, nursing staff, activity leaders and living room staff were offered a schooling aimed at increasing awareness of the importance of movement, as well as providing tools for stimulating movement in elderly with dementia. Caregivers and volunteers received information about movement during an information meeting. The execution of the movement-oriented care differed per discipline. Nursing staff continuously encouraged clients to function as independently as possible. This regards activities such as getting dressed, preparing meals, pouring coffee, and toilet use. Paramedics coached the nursing staff by specifying medical and physical limits of each participant. Additionally, they gave advice on how to handle specific situations. They also informed and coached caregivers on how to safely stimulate movement with clients. Based on these advises, a plan was created for each resident to determine the daily routines that they are capable of performing, as well as how to stimulate the participants to engage in physical activities. Activity leaders were informed on how to include movement interventions in their activities. In addition, activity leaders constructed a leisure-care calendar focusing on general activities based on personal preferences and potentials. Family caregivers and volunteers were encouraged to stimulate physical activity of the patients in general.

Nursing staff were trained by an expert in MDC (three sessions of three hours), in order to increase awareness of the importance of physical activity, as well as the role of physical activity in ADL. Additionally, paramedics received a two-hour meeting informing them on their role in advising nursing staff. Volunteers and family caregivers were informed about the benefits of an active lifestyle during several open meetings.

The outcome variables were measured 5 times, i.e. at baseline and after 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of the intervention. Trained physiotherapists performed the measurements with participants, while nursing staff and caregivers were asked to fill in questionnaires. The test battery administered by the clients had a maximum duration of 30 to 45 minutes, in which the client was free to take breaks.

To ensure compliance to the intervention, one staff member at each psychogeriatric ward became an 'ambassador' of MDC, responsible for implementation at their ward. Process evaluations were administered for nursing staff and caregivers every three months to measure the extent of implementation. These process evaluations consisted of structured interviews and questionnaires. Questionnaires were completed by nursing staff and family caregivers every three months. Structured interviews were conducted with members of a multidisciplinary focus group after three and nine months. The focus group consisted of 12 professionals; nurses, activity leaders, heads of the departments, 'ambassadors', a physiotherapist and an occupational therapist. The process evaluations focused on the following elements:

• To which extent did staff and family carers prepare to provide MDC?
• Which aspects of MDC are applied?
• Is MDC applied according to its core principles?
• To what extent are participants stimulated to be physically active?
• Are the staff and family carers satisfied with the execution of MDC?
• What barriers are experienced?

The following demographic data was registered per participant: subtype dementia, birth year (age), sex, education, severity of dementia, comorbidities, cardiovascular risk factors and medication use.

The severity of dementia was determined using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). The scores ranged from 0 (severe cognitive impairment) to 30 (no cognitive impairment). The recommended cut-off point of 24 was applied, with a score of 23 or lower indicating dementia.

Comorbidities were derived from the medical charts of the participants and were categorized according to the Dutch translation of the Long-Term Care Facility Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI), section I disease diagnosis. The section consists of 44 subcategories that belong to eight categories. The sum of the subcategories was used as a comorbidity score. Information regarding cardiovascular risk factors was derived from the medical charts of the participants.