Examining the Structure and Utility of the EASE: Environmental Audit Scoring Evaluation Tool
Margaret Calkins, Migette Kaup

TL;DR
The EASE tool evaluates long-term care environments for dementia patients, focusing on person-centered design and its impact on resident outcomes.
Contribution
The EASE is a novel, evidence-based tool that integrates dementia-inclusive and household model design practices into environmental audits.
Findings
The EASE was administered in 228 living areas across the US and Canada, covering various care settings.
The tool identifies environmental characteristics linked to person-centered care and resident function outcomes.
EASE evaluations correlate with resident function as measured by the MDS, highlighting environmental influences on care outcomes.
Abstract
The designed environment is especially important for individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias, but validated tools to assess physical environments lag behind theory and practice and omit best design practices. The Environmental Audit Scoring Evaluation tool (EASE) is a unique assessment tool for long-term care settings that is: 1) evidence-based, 2) dementia-inclusive (for both segregated and integrated living areas), and 3) specifically inclusive of household model settings. Founded on the principles of person-centered care practices, the tool specifically targets environmental characteristics that distinguish the values of residential living over institutional routines. The tool was administered in 228 living areas across US and Canada, including nursing homes, assisted living and memory care. The first paper addresses the analysis of the factorial structure of the…
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Taxonomy
TopicsUrban Green Space and Health · Assistive Technology in Communication and Mobility · Geriatric Care and Nursing Homes
