What nursing home environment can maximise eating independence best among residents with cognitive impairment? Findings of a secondary analysis

Palese, Alvisa; Gonella, Silvia; Grassetti, Luca; Longobardi, Melania; De Caro, Alessandro; Achil, Illarj; Hayter, Mark; Watson, Roger

Abstract

To explore the influence of the Nursing Home (NH) environment on eating independence while taking into account individual and nursing care factors, was the aim of the study. A secondary analysis was performed based on data collected in a multicentre prospective observational study involving 13 NHs. Residents aged >65 were included (n=1,027).

Dependence in eating was measured using the Edinburgh Feeding Evaluation in Dementia scale (EdFED, range 0-20). In addition to individual and nursing care variables, the NHs environments were assessed with the Therapeutic Environment Screening Survey for Nursing Homes (TESS-NH, range 0-149). The mean EdFED score was 2.48 (95% Confidence Interval [CI]=2.22-2.73) and the TESS-NH score was 122.19 (95% CI=115.89−128.49). A linear regression analysis explained 30.8% of the total variance in eating dependence.

Alongside individual and nursing care factors, in poor NH unit environments, residents with severe cognitive impairment showed increased eating dependence; in contrast, in better environments, similar residents showed maximal eating performance.

Citation

Palese, A., Gonella, S., Grassetti, L., Longobardi, M., De Caro, A., Achil, I., …Watson, R. (2020). What nursing home environment can maximise eating independence best among residents with cognitive impairment? Findings of a secondary analysis. Geriatric Nursing, 41(6), 709-716. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gerinurse.2020.03.020

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 14, 2020
• Online Publication Date: May 13, 2020
• Publication Date: 2020-11
• Deposit Date: Jun 30, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: May 14, 2021
• Journal: Geriatric Nursing
• Print ISSN: 0197-4572
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 41
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 709-716
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gerinurse.2020.03.020
• Keywords: Cognitive impairment; Dementia; Eating difficulties; Eating performance; Environment; Nursing home; Therapeutic principles; Policy
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/3510306
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0197457220301063