A LONGITUDINAL-STUDY OF PARTICIPATION IN NURSING-HOME ACTIVITY PROGRAMS

The authors evaluated participation in activity programs in a prospect ive study of 198 new nursing home admissions. Both on admission and af ter 1 year, approximately 50% of patients were not participating in ac tivities. Nonparticipation was associated with greater cognitive and f unctional impairment and the use of restraints and neuroleptics. Over the year, activity status changed for approximately 50% of patients in relation to these factors. These findings indicate current limitation s in nursing home activity programs and suggest that participation is a dynamic process influenced by identifiable clinical variables. Revis ion of activity programs is necessary to meet OBRA regulations to impr ove the quality of patients' lives.