Age to Age: Resident Outcomes from a Kindergarten Classroom in the Nursing Home

Abstract

Windsor Place, a nursing home in Coffeyville, Kansas, opened a kindergarten classroom in their facility in the fall of 2008. This study documents the process employed to bring the program to the home and the outcomes derived for residents based on their participation. Twenty-one residents identified by staff as highly involved with the kindergarten program were followed from September through May. They were matched with 21 residents who did not participate with the children. Minimum data set information was collected for measures of pain, activities of daily living, mood states, and weight. No significant changes have been identified, but qualitative data indicate an improvement in quality of life for the highly involved residents.