Effective OT Interventions to

Promote Occupational Performance for Elderly Adults with Alzheimer’s

Lindsey Roarx, OTS

ASOT 2015 Vision in Action Conference

Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia . In 2014 an estimated 5.2 million Americans of all ages have

Alzheimer’s disease. Most people are diagnosed at age 65 or older.

Alzheimer’s Disease

Common Symptoms • Memory loss• Problem solving • Difficulty completing

familiar tasks • Confusion• Withdrawal from social

activities • Changes in mood and

personality

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, degenerative disorder that attacks the brain's nerve cells, or neurons, resulting in loss of memory, thinking and language skills, and behavioral changes. 

What are the most effective OT interventions to promote occupational performance for elderly adults with Alzheimer’s?

Research Question?

Multisensory approach (Heyn,2003)

Walking program (Venturelli, Scarsini, & Schena, 2011)

Evidence-based Practice

Aerobic exercise

s

Strength-Training

Music therapy (Ledger & Baker,2007)

Aromatherapy (Jimbo, Kimura, Taniguchi, Inoue, & Urakami,2009)

Evidence-based Practice

Non-aerobic movement-based program(Yaguez, Shaw, Morris, & Matthews, 2011)

Behavior-based ergonomic therapy (BBET) program (Mowrey, Pratik, Bharwani, & Bharwani, 2012)

Evidence-based Practice

Comforting Stimulating

games and puzzles

Providing specific occupational therapy recommendations to the individual diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and their caregiver

(Dooley & Hinojosa, 2004)

Evidence-based Practice: Compensatory

Environmental modifications

Community-based assistance

Caregiver approache

s

Interventions improved… Mood Behavior Memory Maintained physical and cognitive

function Caregiver burden

Promoted…

Conclusion

Occupational performance and overall quality of life!!!

Questions?

Heyn, P. (2003). The effect of a multisensory exercise program on engagement, behavior, and selected physiological indexes in persons with dementia. American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias, 18, 247-251. doi: 10.1177/15333175030180040

Ledger, A. J., & Baker, F. A. (2007). An investigation of long-term effects of group music therapy on agitation levels of people with Alzheimer’s disease. Aging & Mental Health, 11(3), 330-338. doi: 10.1080/13607860600963406

Jimbo, D., Kimura, Y., Taniguchi, M., Inoue, M., & Urakami, K. (2009). Effect of aromatherapy on patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Psychogeriatrics, 9(4), 173-179. doi: 10.1111/j.1479-8301.2009.00299.x

Yaguez, L., Shaw, K. N., Morris, R., & Matthews, D. (2011). The effects on cognitive functions of movement-based intervention in patients with Alzheimer’s type dementia: a pilot study. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 26(2), 173-181. doi: 10.1002/gps.2510

Dooley, N. R., & Hinojosa, J. (2004). Improving quality of life for person’s with Alzheimer’s disease and their family caregivers: Brief occupational therapy intervention. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 58, 561-569. doi: 10.5014/ajot.58.5.561

Venturelli, M., Scarsini, R., & Schena, F. (2011). Six-month walking program changes cognitive and ADL performance in patients with Alzheimer. American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias, 26(5), 381-388. doi: 10.1177/1533317511418956

Mowrey, C., Pratik, P., Bharwani, G., & Bharwani, M. (2012). Application of behavior-based ergonomics therapies to improve quality of life and reduce medication usage for Alzheimer’s/dementia residents. American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and other Dementias, 28(1), 35-41. doi: 10.1177/1533317512467678

Alzheimer’s Association. (2014). 2014 Alzheimer’s disease facts and figures. Alzheimer’s & Dementia, 10(2). http://www.alz.org/downloads/Facts_Figures_2014.pdf

References