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American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias logoLink to American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias
. 2002 Jan-Feb;17(1):37–43. doi: 10.1177/153331750201700102

Restoring dressing independence in persons with Alzheimer's disease: A pilot study

Kimberly K Engelman 1, R Mark Mathews 2, Deborah E Altus 3
PMCID: PMC10833979  PMID: 11831419

Abstract

Purpose: Well meaning nursing facility staff may compromise the independence of older adults with dementia by performing activities of daily living for residents. We assessed the impact of teaching certified nursing assistants (CNAs) to use a graduated prompting procedure to increase dressing independence of persons with dementia.

Design and methods: This study was conducted in a seven-bed dementia care unit. Three residents and two CNAs participated in the study. We used a repeatedmeasures experimental design to evaluate the effect of a training workshop for CNAs on a strategy for increasing resident engagement in self-care activities.

Results: During a series of baseline observations, we found that CNAs typically dressed residents with minimal resident involvement. Results showed that, following the training workshop for CNAs, resident independence in dressing increased and range of motion improved.

Implications: CNAs can provide restorative care that increases dressing independence and range of motion of older adults with dementia.

Keywords: activities of daily living, certified nursing assistants, dressing independence, graduated prompts, system of least prompts, staff training, dementia care unit

Full Text

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Contributor Information

Kimberly K. Engelman, University of Kansas, School of Medicine, Department of Preventive Medicine, Kansas City, Kansas..

R. Mark Mathews, University of Kansas, Department of Human Development and Family Life, Lawrence, Kansas..

Deborah E. Altus, Washburn University, Human Services Department, Topeka, Kansas..

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