Quality of life in dementia patients in long-term care

Objective: To evaluate variables associated with quality of life (QOL) in dementia residents in a long-term care facility using a recently standardized 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 scores were higher in assisted living residents than in skilled nursing facility residents. In univariate analyses, worse orientation, greater 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, depression, and anxiolytic treatment.

Conclusions: Residents exhibited better QOL than expected. Future longitudinal studies should address if reorientation, activity therapy, treatment of depression, and avoidance of benzodiazepines might improve QOL in this population. Interventions that might improve orientation and physical abilities, such as cholinomimetic therapies, psychosocial interventions, or behavioral strategies, should also be studied in future research on QOL.