2004 Investigator-Initiated Research Grant

Improvements in diagnostic methods and increased awareness of Alzheimer’s disease over the past several years have resulted in earlier diagnoses, when symptoms are only mildly debilitating. There have been relatively few studies, however, on nonpharmacological interventions to maintain cognitive abilities as long as possible or to learn new skills that afford some degree of independence or make fewer demands on caregivers.

Ruth Tappen, Ed.D., R.N., F.A.A.N., and colleagues are evaluating the effectiveness of an in-home training program for people with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. The researchers will assess the functional status and thinking skills of 90 participants, who are randomly assigned to the training program or to a control group (an in-home program that explores the individual’s life history). Participants will be reassessed at the end of the intervention and at a three-month follow-up visit. A primary caregiver will be surveyed about his or her perception of the participant’s abilities, as well as the impact of the intervention on caregiving.

The investigators anticipate that participants will increase their ability to manage such tasks as making appointments, preparing simple meals, taking medications independently, remembering names, and finding often-misplaced objects. They also expect that if participants are able to learn new routines or maintain previously learned routines for a longer period, there may be less stress on caregivers and delays in moving to care facilities.

The outcome of this work may contribute to a growing body of research-based care interventions that improve quality of life for people with dementia and their families.