The Importance of the Social Environment in Dementia Care

To manage the care of residents with dementia, many long-term care facilities have created special care units designed to meet the unique needs of this group. This article describes results of the qualitative component of a larger research project examining environment-behavior relationships in dementia care settings. The study includes 18 in-depth interviews that were conducted with 9 staff and 9 family members of special care unit (SCU) residents. Thematic analysis was conducted using grounded theory techniques. Although participants described residents 'needs in relation to both the physical and social environments, the latter was perceived to have more impact on quality of life andfunctional ability. This article focuses on five areas of need, identified by participants, in relation to the social environment: stimulation and meaningful activity, human contact, safety and supervision, individualized care, andflexibility.