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Cognitive functioning and quality of life: Diverging views of older adults with Alzheimer and professional care staff
- Authors:
- DEWITTE Laura, VANDENBULCKE Mathieu, DEZUTTER Jessie
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 33(8), 2018, pp.1074-1081.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Objective: Staff ratings of quality of life (QOL) in dementia are often lower and more strongly related to the cognitive functioning of the person with dementia than self‐ratings. However, cognition‐related items in QOL measures and limited cognitive screening measures hamper a clear understanding of the relationship, two issues addressed in the current study. Methods: The authors collected data of 88 pairs of older adults with Alzheimer disease and their professional caregivers in 9 residential care settings. Both self‐report and staff report of the QOL of residents were assessed with the Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease. Cognitive functioning was assessed with the Mini‐Mental State Examination and a battery of specific cognitive measures. Results: Intraclass correlations and a paired sample t test confirmed a discrepancy between self‐rating and staff rating, with staff significantly underestimating QOL as experienced by the resident. After removing the possibly confounding memory item of the Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease, Mini‐Mental State Examination score remained a significant predictor of staff ratings but not self‐ratings in regression analyses. Exploratory analyses of specific cognitive measures showed a significant contribution of a memory test of intentional visual association learning in the prediction of staff‐rated QOL. Conclusions: Staff reports cannot simply substitute reports of the subjective experience of residents with Alzheimer, so both judgments should be taken into account to form an adequate picture of QOL. Staff might be guided more strongly by a cognitive point of view when evaluating QOL of residents with Alzheimer disease, while the latter might have shifted their evaluation standards to cope adequately with the challenges posed by their disease. (Edited publisher abstract)
Meaning in Life and depressive symptoms: a person-oriented approach in residential and community-dwelling older adults
- Authors:
- VAN DER HEYDEN Karen, DEZUTTER Jessie, BEYERS Wim
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 19(12), 2015, pp.1063-1070.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
In current society, an increasing population of older adults and a high prevalence of depressive symptoms in late life is noticeable. A possible protective resource is ‘Meaning in Life’. The objective of this study is to identify from a person-oriented view (a) Meaning in Life-profiles, based on Presence of Meaning and Search for Meaning dimensions, and (b) their associations with depressive symptoms. (Edited publisher abstract)