ACTIVITY: PDF OnlyActivities of Daily Living An Essential Component of Programming for Persons with Alzheimer's DiseaseBeck, Cornelia PhD, RN, FAAN; Zgola, Jitka BOTH OT(C); Shue, Valorie BAAlzheimer's Care Quarterly: Spring 2000 - Volume 1 - Issue 2 - p 46-55 Buy Abstract Activities of daily living (ADLs), such as dressing, eating, grooming, mobility, and caring for personal effects, are very precious assets in programming designed for persons with dementia. ADLs are our most personal and familiar pursuits. Therefore, when done in a familiar context, they require little or no new learning. With the appropriate prompts and assistance, the person with Alzheimer's disease has the opportunity to express retained competencies and experience success that she or he can truly appreciate. When ADLs are done within the person's habitual routine, they also contribute to orientation and promote the individual's security and sense of belonging. These potential benefits are lost when “activities” and ADLs are artificially separated and placed under the jurisdiction of separate departments. This article demonstrates the significance of ADLs for persons with dementia and discusses the empirical studies that illustrate the effectiveness of promoting functional ability in long-term care. It also describes attempts, based on clinical experience, to frame the facility's daily programming around ADLs. ©2000Aspen Publishers, Inc.
