Abstract:

The authors determined short-term effects of a home environmental intervention on self-efficacy and upset in caregivers and daily function of dementia patients. They also determined if treatment effect varied by caregiver gender, race and relationship to the patient. A random sample (n=171) of dementia patients were subjected to 5 90-min home visits by occupational therapists who provided educational and physical and social environmental modifications. Intervention caregivers reported fewer declines in patients' instrumental activities of daily living, less decline in self-care and fewer behavioural problems in patients at 3 months post-test. The environmental program apears to have a modest effect on dementia patients' IADL dependence. Also, among certain subgroups of caregivers the program improves self-efficacy and reduces upset in specific areas of caregiving.