%0 Journal Article
%T Influence of an Equine
%A Beth Fields
%A Gene Gloeckner
%A Jason Bruemmer
%A Wendy Wood
%J American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease & Other Dementias£¿
%@ 1938-2731
%D 2018
%R 10.1177/1533317518772052
%X Institutional facilities face challenges providing experiences to residents with dementia that promote participation in meaningful activities. Guided by the Lived Environment Life Quality Model, this study investigated associations between 9 different activity situations¡ªone an equine-assisted activities program (EAAP)¡ªand positive, negative, and neutral behavioral indicators of quality of life (QoL) in 6 residents with dementia who expressed an interest in horses. Direct observational data were collected for 4 hours twice weekly over 8 weeks. Using ¦Ö2 tests, differences across activity situations were tested. More positive patterns of time use (conversation; ¦Ö2 = 44.3, P < .001) and emotional well-being (pleasure; ¦Ö2 = 21.8, P = .001) were found in EAAP compared to other activity situations. Further, EAAP was the only activity situation associated with all positive QoL indicators. These findings add to our understanding the importance of providing meaningful activities that promote use of abilities and provide environmental support, for enhancing QoL, especially for institutionalized people with dementia
%K dementia
%K equine interactions
%K activity situation
%K quality of life
%K long-term care
%K lived environment life quality model
%U https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1533317518772052