Improving the Quality of Dementia Care Through Innovative Redesign of the Memory Care Environment

Change in quality of life, as measured by the Quality of Life in Alzheimer's disease (QOL-AD)

Measured using the self-reported QOL-AD questionnaire comprised of 13 questions with a scale of poor = 1, fair = 2, good = 3, excellent =4. Scores range from 13 to 52, with higher scored indicating better quality of life.

Time frame: every 2 weeks for up to one year

Change in sleep quality, as measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)

Measured using the self-reported PSQI that uses 9 questions regarding sleep quality to determine a final score where a total of "5" or greater is indicative of poor sleep quality.

Time frame: every 2 weeks for up to one year

Change in dementia related behaviors and delirium, as measured by the Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Questionnaire (NPI-Q)

Measured using the self-reported NPI-Q questionnaire that reports Yes = present or No = absent on 12 domains. If yes, then the informant rates the severity of the symptoms on a 3-point scale (1 = mild, 2 = moderate, 3 = severe) and the distress of the symptoms on a 5-point scale (0 = not distressing at all, 1 = minimal, 2 = mild, 3 = moderate, 4 = severe, 5 = extreme or very severe).

Time frame: every 2 weeks for up to one year

Change in mood, as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9)

Measured using the self-reported PHQ-9 questionnaire that uses 9 question regarding patient health with a sale of not at all = 0, several days = 1, more than half the days = 2, nearly everyday =3. Scores range from 0 to 27, with higher scored indicating grater severity of depression.

Time frame: every 2 weeks for up to one year

Change in function and independence, as measured by the Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily living (KATZ)

Measured using the self-reported KATZ questionnaire with a scale of independence = 1 and dependence = 0 to determine total score. The KATZ ranges from 0 to 6 with the lower score indicated patient is very dependent and the higher score indicated patient is independent.