This document presents a scholarly agenda and literature review on the topic of occupationally based activities for long-term care residents. The PICO question asks if occupationally based activities enhance mental state compared to no such opportunities. Research cited found that occupationally based activities improved quality of life and mental and physical health for residents, while lack of activities led to ability declines. Strengths included increased quality of life and participation with activities residents enjoyed, while weaknesses included lack of skilled OT and participant diversity. The clinical relevance is that OT can address mental and physical health through meaningful occupation and independence.

1. Long Term Care-
Resident Quality
of Life
Scholarly Agenda
Stephanie Aleandri

2. PICO Question
 Does occupationally based activities enhance
residents mental state as compared to no
occupationally based opportunities?
P- Care Residents
I- Occupationally Based Activities
C- No Occupationally Based Activities
O- Enhancement in Mental Health

3. Why Is this topic important & why?
 Evidenced based research makes us more
effective therapists
 Engagement in occupation shows improved
quality of life
 Overall mental & physical health is effected by
meaningful activity
 Desire for my loved ones to be treated w/ the
same effective, & evidence based approaches

4. Search Criteria
 Databases Searched  Search Terms
CINAHL Full text
Medline 2000-present
Ebscohost Peer Reviewed
 KEYWORDS
English
Long term care residents’
activities
LTC
Resident depression
Occupational activity

5. Nature of Evidence on Search
 Residents experience increased rates of depression once
admitted into LTC
 Implementing occupational-based activities increases
Quality of Life (QOL), mental & physical health
 No occupation based activities showed decline in abilities to
complete ADL’s
 Residents showed increased levels of activity engagement
when doing something they enjoyed
 Staff needs to be educated on most effective & up-to-date
treatment methods in order to give the most effective care
 When depression increased, mortality rates increased

6. Clinical Relevance
 Occupational Therapy (OT) seeks preventative and
restorative measures when possible
 OT hopes to give our patients as much
independence as possible which allows patients to
feel they have some control
 OT can address the mental & physical health of
patients by encouraging independence and
participation in meaningful activity

7. Strengths & Weaknesses of Evidence
Found
 Strengths
 Increase in quality of life w/ engagement in occupation
 Resident Participation
 Research done in LTC
 Sample sizes
 Weaknesses
 No skilled OT service was offered
 Lack of diversity among participants
 Issues with staff following through with interventions

8. Reference
 Kaasalainen S, Williams J, Hadjistavropoulos T, Thorpe L, Whiting S, Neville S,
et al. (2010). Creating bridges between researchers and long-term care
homes to promote quality of life for residents. Qualitative Health Research,
20(12),
1689-704. Retrieved
from http://ovidsp.ovid.com/ovidweb.cgi?T=JS&PAGE=reference&D=medl&N
EWS=N&AN=20682964.
 Yuen HK, Huang P, Burik JK & Smith TG. (2008). Impact of participating in
volunteer activities for residents living in long-term-care facilities. American
Journal of Occupational Therapy, 62(1), 71-6. Retrieved from
http://ovidsp.ovid.com/ovidweb.cgi?T=JS&PAGE=reference&D=medl&NEWS=
N&AN=18254433.
 Kane KD, Yochim BP & Lichtenberg PA. (2010). Depressive symptoms and
cognitive impairment predict all-cause mortality in
long-term care residents. Psychology & Aging, 25(2), 446-52. Retrieved from
http://ovidsp.ovid.com/ovidweb.cgi?T=JS&PAGE=reference&D=medl&NEWS=
N&AN=20545428.