| dc.description.abstract | Background: In Norway, there are approximately 78.000 people with dementia. Studies suggest that a person’s cognitive problems first appear in activities outside the home. Hence, there is a risk that people with cognitive impairment will avoid to participate in such activities. Purpose: Investigate participation in activities outside the home among home dwelling older adults with cognitive impairment and dementia. Further, investigate whether demographic factors, IADL function, physical function, cognitive function or neuropsychiatric symptoms have impact on participation. Material and methods: A cross-sectional study. The participants (n=95) was home dwelling older adults in Trondheim at time of assessment of cognitive impairment. Descriptive statistics and group comparison with independent t-test and chi-square test are used. Results: On average, participants attended in two activities outside the home. We found statistically significant differences between the “inactive group” and the “active group” regarding to age, public assistance, walking speed, walking aid outdoor and independence during transport and in community activities. Neither cognitive function nor prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms differed statistically between the two groups. Conclusions: In our study IADL function and mobility was important for participation in activities outside the home, while cognitive function was not important. | nb_NO |
