Family members' perceptions of quality of life change in dementia SCU residents

Global ratings of change in residents 'physical, emotional, social and cognitive functioning were obtained in interviews with family members of 67 special care unit (SCU) residents and 16 non-SCU control group residents of an intermediate care facility (ICF). In cumulative logistic regression models, with adjustment for covariates (including length of residence in the facility), the odds of being rated by family members as better in emotional and social functioning since entering the facility were significantly greater for SCU than for non-SCU dementia residents. The odds of being rated as better in emotional functioning were also significantly greater for residents of the higher staffed SCU floor compared to residents of the lower staffed SCU floor. Ratings by institutional caregivers and data collected by direct observation were consistent with these findings. Family members' perception of positive change among residents is a logically desirable SCU outcome.

Duke Scholars

Author Huiman Xie Barnhart Biostatistics & Bioinformatics, Division of Biostatistics