Identifying Preferences in Persons with Dementia: Systematic Preference Testing vs. Caregiver and Family Member Report
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2011
Abstract
One problem facing professional caregivers of dementia patients involves identifying preferences in patients with impaired verbal abilities. Long-term care staff often rely on the opinions of family or trial and error to discover patient preferences despite the availability of empirical methods for assessing preferences in nonverbal populations. The purpose of this study was to examine whether caregivers and family members could accurately determine the preferences of dementia patients. Patient preferences were determined using an empirical preference assessment while caregivers and family completed a self-report measure concerning their opinions about patient preferences. Results indicated that family and staff were relatively inaccurate in determining the preferences of patients. Results may have implications for developing more effective care plans and improving quality of life for persons with dementia residing in long-term care facilities.
Department
Psychology
Publication Title
Clinical Gerontologist
Recommended Citation
Mesman, G.R., Buchanan, J.A., Husfeldt, J.D., & Berg, T.M. (2011). Identifying Preferences in Persons with Dementia: Systematic Preference Testing vs. Caregiver and Family Member Report. Clinical Gerontologist, 34 (2), 154-159. doi. 10.1080/07317115.2011.539516
DOI
10.1080/07317115.2011.539516
Link to Publisher Version (DOI)
Publisher's Copyright and Source
Copyright © 2011 Taylor & Francis Group. Article published by Taylor & Francis Group in Clinical Gerontologist, volume 34, issue number 2, 2011, pages 154-159. Available online on February 23, 2011:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07317115.2011.539516
