Functional competence and emotional well-being for long term care residents with dementia: confirming a conceptual practice model through action research

Abstract

Long term care facilities often lack support for residents' quality of life. The Lived Environment and Life Quality Model (LELQ) is an empirically derived conceptual model on the effects of the lived environment on three quality of life indicators: daily time use, functional competence and emotional well-being, for long term care residents' with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. This study's purpose was to further the LELQ Model by engaging in a theory building process. To do so, the study sought to understand how expert occupational therapists' conceptualizations of their work align with the LELQ concepts: functional competence and emotional well-being. Six expert practitioners engaged in two individual interviews, and three focus groups. Through qualitative data analysis, we found that in general, expert practitioners' conceptualizations aligned and confirmed the LELQ Model domains functional competence and emotional well-being, and the connections they have to other concepts described in the model. In addition to confirmation, the participants elaborated on aspects of the model and identified potential gaps for implementation of the model in practice. Several ideas were highlighted as a result of this study including: the importance of the social environment support for use of retained capacities and emotional well-being, the addition of optimal health and personhood to the model and reimbursement as a barrier to application of the model in practice. The LELQ Model has been shown to be relevant and useful for practitioners however, further research is needed in order to revise and implement the LELQ Model in practice.