Dressing for success. Promoting independence among cognitively impaired elderly.
In demented persons, activities of daily living skills may deteriorate more quickly than their cognitive decline warrants because caregivers do not allow them to perform ADLs to the full extent of their abilities. Caregiver actions that promote independent behaviors were used with subjects in home and nursing home settings. Four of five home subjects showed decreased caregiver assistance and increased ability to dress more independently. Although nursing home subjects did not show a decrease in caregiver assistance, observation showed that some nursing home caregivers did incorporate behavioral strategies, suggesting potential clinical efficacy of the strategies.
Beck
C
C
College of Nursing, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock 72205-7199.
Heacock
P
P
Mercer
S
S
Walton
C G
CG
Shook
J
J
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003020:Clothing / Q000592:standards*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000451:nursing* / Q000628:therapy; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010353:Patient Education as Topic