Environmental Modification

Question 1

What characterizes a long-term care facility

Answer 1

inadequate space, confusing features, and a lack of meaningful cues

Question 2

What benefits can modifying an environment have

Answer 2

reduced problem behaviours, better performance of daily activities and improved affect

Question 3

What is the goal of environemental interventions

Answer 3

increase access to safe, stimulating but easily navigated, and pleasant environments.

Question 4

What is the purpose of the article “The Effects of an Enhanced Environment on Nursing Home Residents who Pace”

Answer 4

To assess the effects of an enhanced environment, on the behavior and mood, as well as on the manifestation of pacing and wandering behaviors, of nursing home residents who pace frequently.

Question 5

What are the benefits of wandering and pacing in a safe environment

Answer 5

may provide stimulation and exercise

Question 6

What are the hypotheses of the article “The Effects of an Enhanced Environment on Nursing Home Residents who Pace”

Answer 6

Those who pace frequently do the following in enhanced environment:

• spend more time in location
• sit more and stand less
• manifest less exit-seeking and trespassing behaviors
• manifest less agitated behaviors
• show improved mood

Question 7

How many participants were in the “The Effects of an Enhanced Environment on Nursing Home Residents who Pace” and what were the ages

Answer 7

27 (21 F. 6M) nursing home residents, age 75-93, who pace/wander at least several times a day.

Question 8

What were the 6 assessments in “The Effects of an Enhanced Environment on Nursing Home Residents who Pace” article

MEALBC

Answer 8

Location 
Body position. 
Exit-seeking and trespassing 
Agitated behaviors
Mood 
Confusion

Question 9

What do environmental stimuli consist of

Answer 9

visual, auditory, and olfactory stimuli

Question 10

What were the 2 simulated environments in

“The Effects of an Enhanced Environment on Nursing Home Residents who Pace” article

Answer 10

1) The nature scene

2) A home and people scene

Question 11

What elements were within the nature scene

Answer 11

• Wall murals and wall posters of forests, valleys, and other vistas in color.
• Artificial plants and trees were added to enhance the visual and touch senses
• Nature sounds such as the song of birds were provided as auditory stimuli (olfactory stimuli were provided by using aroma diffuser machines emitting the smell of forests)
• Two benches were added in each of the scenes, positioned facing large pictures

Question 12

What elements were within the home and people scene

Answer 12

• Enlarged black-and-white photographs depicting family scenes from the early 1940s and 50s.
• Wall posters of persons familiar to the participants were added to this scene.
• Artificial plants were located in the scene corridor. Jewish music provided the main auditory stimuli with some periods of classical music
• Citrus aroma provided the olfactory stimulus. - An armchair and a coffee table with books on its top

Question 13

Did participants spend more time in the enhanced environment

Answer 13

yes

Question 14

Did participants sit more and stand less in the enhanced environment

Answer 14

Participants sat longer on the benches located in the corridors

Question 15

Were less trespassing and exit seeking behaviors manifested

Answer 15

Did not reach statistical significance but participants were consistently observed manifesting less trespassing and exit-seeking behaviors at the corridors

Question 16

Did participants show improved mood

Answer 16

statistically significant increase in pleasure was observed when the participants were at the nature scene compared to the no-scene situation.

Question 17

Did the results of the “The Effects of an Enhanced Environment on Nursing Home Residents who Pace” article support the hypothesis

Answer 17

Yes, it shows a practical environment for accommodating pacing behaviors