Bw. Rovner et al., A LONGITUDINAL-STUDY OF PARTICIPATION IN NURSING-HOME ACTIVITY PROGRAMS, The American journal of geriatric psychiatry, 2(2), 1994, pp. 169-174
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.