Quality of life in dementia patients in longterm care

Objective. To evaluate variables associated with quality of life (QOL) in d ementia residents in a long-term care facility using a recently standardize d and validated dementia-specific QOL scale (ADRQL). Method A cross-sectional, case-control design was employed using validated scales to assess dementia-related symptomatology. Thirty-two facility staff members were interviewed to assess the QOL of 120 patients meeting DSM-IV for dementia criteria residing in long-term care. Results. ADRQL cores were higher in assisted living residents than in skill ed nursing facility residents. In univariate analyses, worse orientation, g reater physical dependency, depression, and treatment with anxiolytics were associated with lower ADRQL scores. In multivariate analyses, lower scores were associated with worse orientation, greater physical dependency, depre ssion, and anxiolytic treatment. Conclusions. Residents exhibited better QOL, than expected. Future longitud inal studies should address if reorientation, activity therapy, treatment o f depression, and avoidance of benzodiazepines might improve QOL in this po pulation. Interventions that might improve orientation and physical abiliti es, such as cholinomimetic therapies, psychosocial interventions, or behavi oral strategies, should also be studied in future research on QOL. Copyrigh t (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.