Memory awareness among Japanese nursing facility residents

One hundred and seventeen elderly residents of seven geriatric health facil ities located in Tokyo participated in this study. The Mini-Mental State, M etamemory in Adulthood, Geriatric Depression Health Scale and demographic q uestionnaires were used in face-to-face interviews. The subjects were 32 ma les and 85 females, with a mean age of 83.08 years. Depression was found to be a key factor for explaining metamemory. Depression accounted for 17% of the variance in capacity and 23% in change. There were no differences betw een the mild cognitive impairment group and the cognitively intact group on achievement, capacity, change, locus and strategy subscales. When depressi on was considered as a moderating factor, a difference arose between two co gnitive levels. History of stroke was not related to metamemory in this stu dy; however, future studies should emphasize memory awareness in brain inju ry residents since 41% of the sample had a history of CVA. Copyright (C) 19 99 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.