Journal article
Characteristics of Activities for Persons With Dementia at the Mild, Moderate, and Severe Stages
The Gerontologist, v 57(5), pp 987-997
01 Oct 2017
PMID: 27986794
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
To understand activity in dementia care, we examine relationships of disease stage with types and characteristics of meaningful activities (cueing needs, help with initiation, and recommended engagement time) provided in a home-based intervention trial designed to reduce behavioral symptoms.
Data involved 158 activity prescriptions or written documents detailing prescribed activities, cueing needs, and engagement goals designed by occupational therapists for 56 families. Activities were categorized as arts and crafts, exercise/physical, cognitive, music/entertainment, manipulation/sensory/sorting, family/social/ reminiscence, and domestic/homemaking. Bivariate correlations examined relationships of activity categories and characteristics with disease stage (mild, moderate, or severe). Kruskal-Wallis H tests examined differences among disease stages and frequency of type of activities prescribed, recommended cues, and engagement time. For significant Kruskal-Wallis tests, pairwise comparisons utilized the Mann-Whitney U test.
Activity categories and instructions for set up were significantly related to cognitive and functional levels. Persons with mild dementia were most often prescribed complex arts and crafts and cognitive activities. Persons with moderate dementia were most often prescribed music/entertainment. Persons with severe dementia were most often prescribed simple physical exercises and manipulation/sensory/sorting activities. Average time prescribed for activities was less for those in severe (15min) versus moderate (24min) and mild (28min) stages. The severe group required more assistance with activity initiation and cueing/redirection.
Type of activity, recommended cueing, and engagement time differed by dementia stage. Findings provide guidance as to how to use and set up activities across the dementia trajectory.
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Details
- Title
- Characteristics of Activities for Persons With Dementia at the Mild, Moderate, and Severe Stages
- Creators
- Natalie G Regier - Johns Hopkins MedicineNancy A Hodgson - University of PennsylvaniaLaura N Gitlin - Johns Hopkins Medicine
- Publication Details
- The Gerontologist, v 57(5), pp 987-997
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Grant note
- R21 MH069425 / NIMH NIH HHS T32 AG027668 / NIA NIH HHS
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- College of Nursing and Health Professions; Drexel University
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000412236100024
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85030788893
- Other Identifier
- 991020111973404721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Gerontology