How patients with dementia spend their time in a psycho-geriatric unit

This paper presents the findings of a work sampling study conducted at an a ssessment unit for patients with dementia at a university hospital in North ern Sweden. The aim of the study was to describe the activity of the dement ed patients' day at a psycho-geriatric unit, and to investigate the correla tion between the patients' characteristics and time provided by nursing sta ff, in order to increase our knowledge of institutionalized demented patien ts situation. The sample consisted of 24 patients with dementia. The activi ties of patients were monitored at 10-min interval between 7.00 a.m. and 9. 10 p.m. In total, 2024 activities were recorded. The findings showed that b eing demented and placed in a psycho-geriatric unit is a life in solitude f or most of the time. The variation in time patients spent in solitude could partly be explained by their communication abilities. For patients with de mentia, communion is essential for their well-being. In order to develop th eir well-being, it seems important to enhance our knowledge about the reaso ns, that influence the nursing staffs' perceptions of patients with dementi a, to decrease their time in solitude.