Effects of small scaled special care units for patients with dementia

A longitudinal controlled trial comparing patients with dementia living in a regular special care unit with patients with dementia living in a small scaled home-like special care unit

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN11151241

Enrollment

145

Registered

2017-06-21

Start date

2009-01-01

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2019-03-25

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Dementia Mental and Behavioural Disorders Unspecified dementia

Interventions

The patients were living in two different nursing homes before the study started. Patients of the intervention group were relocated from their regular SCU to a small-scale home-like SCU due to organiz

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: 1. Age 65 - 100 2. Diagnosis of dementia reported in the medical file

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: No dementia reported in the medical file

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
All measurements conducted at baseline (3 months before intervention), follow up 1 (3 months after intervention) and follow up 2 (6 months after intervention). 1. Cognition: 1.1. Cognitive status, assessed using the Dutch version of the Standardized Mini-Mental State Examination 1.2. Verbal memory, assessed using the Eight Word Verbal Memory Test of the Amsterdam Dementia Screening Test (ADS) 1.3. Visual memory, recognition of pictures and recognition of faces, assessed using two subtests of the Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test (RBMT) 1.4. Language functioning, assessed using the shortened Boston Naming Test-15 (BNT) 1.5. Different aspects of praxis, assessed using the diagnostic test for apraxia of van Heugten 1.6. Executive control, measured using the Trail Making Test A and B, The Category Fluency Task from the Groningen Intelligence Test (GIT) and a Clock Drawing test 1.7. Figure recognition, assessed using a subtask of the GIT, Incomplete Drawings 1.8. Aspects of cognition, observed by nursing personnel with a behavioural observation scale for intramural psychogeriatry (GIP) 1.9. Cognitive decline, measured using the Information Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly 2. Rest/activity: 2.1. Objective rest-activity variables, measured with an Actiwatch (Cambridge Neurotechnology Ltd, Cambridge, UK) 2.2. Intersubjective activity level, assessed by using two scales of a behavioral observation scale for intramural psychogeriatry (GIP) 3. Quality of life: 3.1. Quality of life, assessed using the QUALIDEM 3.2. Relevant neuropsychiatric symptoms of quality of life, collected with subscales of the GIP 4. Mood, assessed with the Dutch version of the Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS-15)	—

Measure

Time frame

All measurements conducted at baseline (3 months before intervention), follow up 1 (3 months after intervention) and follow up 2 (6 months after intervention). 1. Cognition: 1.1. Cognitive status, assessed using the Dutch version of the Standardized Mini-Mental State Examination 1.2. Verbal memory, assessed using the Eight Word Verbal Memory Test of the Amsterdam Dementia Screening Test (ADS) 1.3. Visual memory, recognition of pictures and recognition of faces, assessed using two subtests of the Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test (RBMT) 1.4. Language functioning, assessed using the shortened Boston Naming Test-15 (BNT) 1.5. Different aspects of praxis, assessed using the diagnostic test for apraxia of van Heugten 1.6. Executive control, measured using the Trail Making Test A and B, The Category Fluency Task from the Groningen Intelligence Test (GIT) and a Clock Drawing test 1.7. Figure recognition, assessed using a subtask of the GIT, Incomplete Drawings 1.8. Aspects of cognition, observed by nursing personnel with a behavioural observation scale for intramural psychogeriatry (GIP) 1.9. Cognitive decline, measured using the Information Questionnaire on Cognitive Decline in the Elderly 2. Rest/activity: 2.1. Objective rest-activity variables, measured with an Actiwatch (Cambridge Neurotechnology Ltd, Cambridge, UK) 2.2. Intersubjective activity level, assessed by using two scales of a behavioral observation scale for intramural psychogeriatry (GIP) 3. Quality of life: 3.1. Quality of life, assessed using the QUALIDEM 3.2. Relevant neuropsychiatric symptoms of quality of life, collected with subscales of the GIP 4. Mood, assessed with the Dutch version of the Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS-15)

—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
No secondary outcome measures	—

Countries

Netherlands

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Mar 9, 2026