Changes in habits related to self-care in dementia: The nursing home versus adult day care

Jiska Cohen-Mansfield*, Barbara Jensen

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Little is known about the changes that occur for older persons with dementia in the practice of self-care routines. This study assesses the concordance of past and current self-care practices of day care and nursing home persons using spouse reports, the degree of spouse awareness of these changes, and spouse perception of how important self-care practices had been to their partner. Participants were spouses of 12 older persons with dementia in day care and spouses of 20 nursing home residents. Self-care routines were assessed using the Self-maintenance Habits and Preferences in Elderly (SHAPE) questionnaire. Day care attendees showed few changes in self-care routines compared to nursing home residents. Spouses of nursing home residents underestimate the changes in self-care that occur with nursing home admission. The importance of being aware of self-care changes lies in the value of maintaining continuity with the customary preferences and routines of the older person.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)184-189
Number of pages6
JournalAmerican Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and other Dementias
Volume22
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2007

Keywords

  • Adult day care
  • Dementia
  • Nursing home
  • Proxy reports
  • Self-care

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