PREDICTORS OF NURSING-HOME RESIDENTS PARTICIPATION IN ACTIVITY PROGRAMS

Nursing homes are mandated by the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (O BRA) to provide activity programs (U.S. Congress, 1987). Little inform ation exists, however, as to residents' participation in activity prog rams. Using data from a Health Care Financing Administration project, the present study examines the relationship between resident character istics and time participating in activities. Among 2,672 nursing home residents we found measures of resource use, cognitive abilities, depr ession, sense of initiative/involvement, activity repertoire, location preferences, and gender all to be significant in explaining the amoun t of activity time.