title: Evaluating the effectiveness of the abilities-focused approach to morning care of people with dementia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The abilities-focused approach demonstrated efficacy in promoting engagement of residents with dementia in care. The extent to which these resident outcomes can be replicated when the abilities-focused approach is implemented by nursing staff under the conditions of day-to-day practice was investigated in this study. The aim was to examine changes in resident outcomes before and after nursing staff' implementation of the abilities-focused approach and the contribution of this approach to resident outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A one-group pretest-post-test design was used. Observational data were obtained from 65 residents with dementia. The data pertained to the implementation of abilities-focused strategies during episodes of morning care and residents' level of agitation, participation in morning care and physical and psychosocial functioning.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of abilities-focused strategies used during morning care increased at post-test. No clinically important changes in resident outcomes were observed over time. However, the implementation of some strategies was associated with residents' participation in care and functioning at post-test. The results provided preliminary evidence of the effectiveness of the abilities-focused approach in maintaining functioning in people with dementia. Additional research is needed to understand the mechanism underlying the effects of this person-centred approach to care on resident outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Implementation of the abilities-focused approach assists people with dementia to participate in morning care.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Reyerson University, Toronto, ON, Canada. ssidani@ryerson.ca
authors.forename: Souraya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sidani
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Streiner
authors.forename: Chantale
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Leclerc
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003704:Dementia / Q000451:nursing*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D005851:Geriatric Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000379:methods; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000379:methods*; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000451:nursing; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods; D014038:Toilet Facilities