A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial Testing the Impact of Function and Behavior Focused Care for Nursing Home Residents With Dementia

Objective: The purpose of this study was to test the effectiveness of the Function and Behavior Focused Care for the Cognitively Impaired (FBFC-CI) intervention on function, physical activity, and behavioral symptoms among nursing home residents with dementia, and to explore the adoption of the intervention at the facility level. Design: This study was a clustered, randomized controlled trial with a repeated measures design that was implemented in 12 nursing homes randomized to either treatment (FBFC-CI) or educational control [Function and Behavior Focused Care Education (FBFC-ED)]. Setting and Participants: Twelve nursing homes (6 treatment and 6 control) and 336 residents (173 treatment and 163 control) with moderate to severe cognitive impairment. Measures: Outcomes included functional ability (Barthel Index), physical activity (actigraphy and survey), behavioral symptoms (Resistiveness to Care Scale, Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory, Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia), and psychotropic medication use. Results: The participants were 82.6 (SD = 10.1) years of age, mostly female, and were moderate to severely cognitively impaired (Mini-Mental State Exam of 7.8, SD = 5.1). There was a significantly greater increase in time spent in total activity (P = .004), moderate activity (P = .012), light activity (P = .002), and a decrease in resistiveness to care (P =.004) in the treatment versus control group at 4 months. There was no change in mood, agitation, and the use of psychotropic medications. There was some evidence of adoption of the intervention at treatment sites. Conclusions and Implications: This study provides some support for the use of the FBFC-CI Intervention to increase time spent in physical activity and decrease resistive behaviors during care commonly noted among nursing home residents with moderate to severe cognitive impairment. (c) 2020 AMDA d The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine.