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., Hayter, M., & 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