Memory awareness among Japanese nursing facility residents.

One hundred and seventeen elderly residents of seven geriatric health facilities located in Tokyo participated in this study. The Mini-Mental State, Metamemory in Adulthood, Geriatric Depression Health Scale and demographic questionnaires were used in face-to-face interviews. The subjects were 32 males and 85 females, with a mean age of 83.08 years. Depression was found to be a key factor for explaining metamemory. Depression accounted for 17% of the variance in capacity and 23% in change. There were no differences between the mild cognitive impairment group and the cognitively intact group on achievement, capacity, change, locus and strategy subscales. When depression was considered as a moderating factor, a difference arose between two cognitive levels. History of stroke was not related to metamemory in this study; however, future studies should emphasize memory awareness in brain injury residents since 41% of the sample had a history of CVA.