Comparing Communal Environments Using the Assessment Tool for Occupation and Social Engagement: Using Interactive Occupation and Social Engagement as Outcome Measures

Abstract

Introduction: Interactive occupation and social engagement are important components of quality of life for residents with dementia in nursing homes. Communal living spaces should be evaluated on these qualities. Two Irish nursing homes were compared pre and post conversion from a traditional to a household model unit using the Assessment Tool for Occupation and Social Engagement. This assessment uses interactive occupation and social engagement as positive outcome measures. Method: Residents, staff, and relatives were observed pre and post renovation over a 6-week period using a snapshot observational method over 4 hours on 7 different weekdays. Findings: Changing from a traditional to a household model nursing home increased the interactive occupation and social engagement of residents, staff, and visitors within the communal living areas. The role of a homemaker in the household unit was critical for maintaining residents' participation and engagement, including engaging in familiar everyday domestic tasks. Conclusion: Interactive occupation and social engagement were significantly increased in the household model unit over the traditional model unit, particularly for residents. In the household model unit, more residents initiated and maintained their own interactions within the communal environment and did not require prompting from staff to do this.