Quality of Life Model |

The SCAMPI quality of life model was developed as a general model that describes the types of goals that would hold for most people living with dementia. The model defines five top level goals, derived from Lawton’s definition of quality of life with Alzheimer’s disease [1]:

Ability to perfom activities of daily living
Emotional wellbeing
Physical wellbeing
Cognitive health
Social life

These five areas of quality of life are further refined into more specific goals that we have associated with different types of meaningful activities. For example, goals such as:

Relaxation
Physical fitness
Active mind
Social support network
Meaningful relationships
Making a contribution
Independent living
Personal identity
Connection to nature
Connection to neighbourhood

A full version of the SCAMPI quality of life model can be viewed here:

SCAMPI QoL Model

Meaningful activities

Meaningful activities of people with dementia have been synthesised and categorized into themes related to connectedness [2]. The 3 themes describe how a person with dementia might seek to connect:

to oneself (for example through maintenance of personal routines, engaging in activities to benefit health and having personal time and rest);
to others (for example having social contact, doing activities with others and maintaining meaningful relationships) and;
to one’s environment (for example being settled at home, being involved in the community and getting out into nature).

The SCAMPI taxonomy of meaningful activities contains close to 900 entries, some of which are presented below as examples.

(Click on the heading to expand the section)

Eating out

These activities can help social contact and participation.

Go cheese tasting
Go out for a coffee
Go out for a meal
Go out for a picnic
Go out for a snack
Go out for afternoon tea
Go out for an ice cream
Go out for fish and chips
Go to a cafe
Go to a tea dance
Go to the pub
Have a barbecue
Visit a cafe in supermarket
Visit a restaurant

Exercise

These activities can help achieve physical wellbeing, in particular physical fitness

Aerobic exergaming
Balance exergaming
High intensity exergaming
Do seated exercises
Do stretching exercises
Go for a jog-walk combined
Go Nordic walking with a group
Go on a health walk
Jog on a mini trampoline
Train with resistance bands
Use a pedal exerciser
Use an exercise ball
Use an exercise bike
Use elliptical trainer or cross trainer
Walk with a walking group
Workout on gym machines

Going out - cultural

These activities can help social contact and participation and to keep an active mind.

Attend a musical
Attend jazz music night
Attend movie club
Go on local group sightseeing tour
Go out to watch sport
Go sightseeing
Go to a concert
Go to an art fair
Go to gallery
Go to local place of interest
Go to museum
Go to opera
Go to the cinema
Go to the theatre
Visit historic places

Going out - general

These activities can help social contact and participation.

Go into town
Go on a boat trip
Go on outing
Go out for a drive (with someone)
Go to shops
Go to the DIY store
Go to the library
Go to the post office
Go to the post box
Run an errand for someone
Visit a craft demonstration

Nature

These activities can help achieve a positive sense of wellbeing, in particular being connected to nature.

Visit a boating lake
Watch wildlife through window
Go to a horticultural show
Visit a sensory garden
Visit the countryside
Walk in the woods
Go in garden
Keep houseplants
Visit public gardens
Go on barge trip
Harvest fruit and vegetables
Go horse riding
Go to garden centre
Visit wildlife
Feed birds in the outdoors
Visit a nature reserve
Visit a local park
Go hang gliding
Water the plants
Go to bird watching group
Drive through the countryside
Go orienteering
Visit the seaside
Go fishing
Go rambling with group
Visit a farm

Physical activities

These activities can help achieve physical wellbeing

Canoeing
Climbing
Do a bungee jump
Do a skydive
Juggling
Skateboarding
Trampolining
Go fishing
Hang gliding
Go hunting
Ice skating
Paddle boarding
Roller skating
Go sailing
Go shooting
Surfing
Swimming
Martial arts
Skiing

Relaxation

These activities can help achieve a positive sense of wellbeing, in particular relaxation.

Be read to by someone
Listen to relaxation recording
Listen to soothing music
Perform breathing exercises
Relax in the garden

Reminiscence

These activities can help achieve a positive sense of wellbeing, in particular a sense of spirituality.

Explore memory box (or room)
Explore memorabilia
Listen to historic radio recordings
Look at photographs
Journey through life history
Look through old postcards
Reflect on the history of a place
Reminisce about holidays you went on
Reminisce about where you used to live
Reminisce about your working life
Reminisce through music
Reminisce about your childhood
Visit a family grave (or shrine)

Singing and playing an instrument

These activities can help keeping an active mind.

Attend a singing group
Attend Karaoke evening
Attend local choir
Attend a music group
Perform music to others
Learn musical instrument
Play in marching band
Play musical instrument

Spiritual

These activities can help achieve a positive sense of wellbeing, fulfilling a a sense of spirituality and in some cases faith.

Attend art therapy
Attend drama therapy
Attend music therapy
Do group meditation
Do Qigong
Do Tai Chi
Do yoga for relaxation
Meditate
Spend time alone to contemplate
Attend religious choir
Go to place of worship
Home visit from religious leader

Time with partner

These activities can help social life, in particular for a meaningful relationship with a partner.

Date night with partner
Have a meal out with partner
Go somewhere romantic with partner
Go on outing with partner

Vocational activities

These activities can help achieve a positive sense of wellbeing, and in many cases can fulfil making a contribution.

Decorate the home interior
Do car maintenance
Fill the car with petrol
Fix the fence
Paint the home exterior
Repair an appliance
Wash the car
Wash the windows at home
Conduct an orchestra
Go on a business trip
Pack for a holiday
Care for pet
Keep a horse
Train a pet
Breed animals
Attend a men in sheds group
Drive a tractor
Make accommodation homely
Organise a room at home
Coach sports
Teach a craft
Teach exercise class
Be a befriender
Participate in film project
Participate in research
Raise awareness of medical condition
Run a support group
Take someone out in a wheelchair

References

Lawton M.: Quality of Life in Alzheimer Disease. Alzheimer Disease and Associated Disorders 8(3), Raven Press Ltd., New York, pp. 138-50 (1994).
Han A., Radel J., McDowd J. Sabata D.; Perspectives of People with Dementia About Meaningful Activities: A Synthesis. American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias 31(2), pp. 115-123 (2016).