Maintenance of mobility in residents of an Alzheimer special care facility.
The cognitive and functional decline of demented residents in a specialized Alzheimer's facility was compared to that of demented residents living in a traditional nursing home. All residents met DSM-III-R criteria for dementia. The evaluation consisted of a clinical interview with patients and collateral assessments of cognition, general health, problem behaviors, depression, and a broad range of activities of daily living (ADLs) including mobility. Residents were evaluated at baseline and 6-month intervals over 18 months. Similar rates of decline were found in cognition and overall ADLs in both groups. However, the most striking finding was preserved mobility in residents of the Alzheimer's facility. This finding suggests that specialized facilities do not halt or slow the overall progression of cognitive and functional decline seen in Alzheimer's disease; however, residents of such facilities may show slower decline in mobility.
Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pennsylvania, USA.
J
J
Saxton
M
M
Silverman
E
E
Ricci
C
C
Keane
B
B
Deeley
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000451:nursing*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills; D019954:Neurobehavioral Manifestations; D010414:Pennsylvania; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012866:Skilled Nursing Facilities / Q000458:organization & administration*