A Positive Environment?

The increasing numbers of very elderly people in the population and the decreased use of long-stay hospitals are leading to pressure for services in the community for people with dementia. Residential care plays an important role in the care of such people, and developing new, innovative services and monitoring the quality of care in existing institutions are important policy issues.

The book describes an investigation into the relationship between residential care environment and the welfare of residents with senile dementia. Unlike many studies of residential care, the study included aspects of both the physical and social environment and examined the impact on residents over time. The study used some innovative approaches to assessing the impact of the environment on residents and the book describes a model using quantitative techniques to analyse outcomes for residents. The results are set in the context of current policy issues and provide pointers for specifying standards for the care of residents with senile dementia. The potential for innovative schemes building on the results of the study is discussed, and the concept of "informal care homes" is introduced.