Physical Performance and Quality of Life of Nursing-Home Residents with Mild and Moderate Dementia

Elisabeth Wiken Telenius, Knut Engedal and Astrid Bergland
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Elisabeth Wiken Telenius: Faculty of Health Sciences, Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences; Oslo 0130, Norway
Knut Engedal: Oslo University Hospital, Ageing and Health: Norwegian Centre for Research, Education and Service Development, Oslo 0424, Norway
Astrid Bergland: Faculty of Health Sciences, Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences; Oslo 0130, Norway

IJERPH, 2013, vol. 10, issue 12, 1-15

Abstract: Introduction : The aims of this study were to describe the quality of life (QoL) of nursing-home residents with dementia and their balance, mobility, muscle strength and daily life activity, as well as to examine the associations between QoL and levels of balance, mobility, muscle strength and daily life activity. Methods : The study is cross sectional, and 170 nursing-home residents with dementia were included. Tests: “The quality of life in late-stage dementia scale” (QUALID), Berg Balance Scale, comfortable walking speed, maximum walking speed, 30-s sit-to-stand, Barthel Index, Clinical Dementia Rating Scale, the Clock Drawing Test and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) were used. Results : Our study showed that nursing-home residents with dementia are a heterogeneous group regarding registrations of QUALID and physical function measures. The scores on the QUALID ranged from 11 to 41 points. Higher scores on the 30-s sit-to-stand and Berg Balance Scale were associated with a better QUALID. For comfortable, as well as maximum, walking speed there was a trend towards better QUALID results for those participants with higher walking speed. Conclusions : Good muscle strength and balance were the most important physical performance variables significantly associated with a good QUALID score.

Keywords: quality of life; dementia; nursing home; balance; mobility; muscle strength and activity of daily living (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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