Preferences for Everyday Living: Understanding the Impact of Cognitive Status on Preference Importance Ratings in Nursing Homes.

Assessing everyday living preferences for nursing home residents is a cornerstone of delivering person-centered care (PCC), yet little is known about how cognitive ability can influence the importance of reported preferences. The current study examined the effect of cognitive ability on the level and stability of reported importance of preferences for everyday living in a sample of 255 nursing home residents across 3 months. Participants were grouped by cognitive impairment status (none-to-low, mild, and moderate) at baseline and completed the Preferences for Everyday Living Inventory, Nursing Home version interview at baseline and 3 months. Repeated measures analyses of covariance revealed no significant differences (p > 0.001) between cognitive groups on their reported level of importance of preferences at baseline and no significant change over 3 months. These data highlight the value of assessing everyday care preferences to help support delivery of PCC for individuals with and without cognitive impairment. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 44(5), 9-17.]. Copyright 2017, SLACK Incorporated.