Linda R. Struckmeyer, Noralyn Davel Pickens; Home Modifications for People With Alzheimer’s Disease: A Scoping Review. Am J Occup Ther 2015;70(1):7001270020. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2015.016089
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© 2021 American Occupational Therapy Association
OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this review was twofold: (1) to gain insight into what is known from the literature about home modifications for people with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and (2) to identify gaps in the literature that could lead to opportunities for research.
METHOD. A systematic scoping review of peer-reviewed articles published from 1994 through 2014 explored home modifications and AD.
RESULTS. Seventeen articles met the inclusion criteria. The three major findings pertain to (1) the caregiver role and caregiver training, (2) a client-centered collaborative approach to assessment and intervention, and (3) modifications for safety and function. Home modifications involved the physical and social environments as well as cognitive strategies at the task level.
CONCLUSION. Opportunities exist for the development of assessment procedures, the exploration of home modifications in the later stages of AD, and the study of home modification needs of people with dementia who live alone.
Because occupational therapy is an evidence-based, science-driven profession, evaluators need instruments with solid psychometric properties and clinical utility to inform practice in the area of home modifications for people with AD.
As occupational therapy moves toward more community-based practice settings, and as the incidence of AD continues to rise, evidence is needed to support home modifications for aging in place throughout all stages of the disease process.
Because occupational therapy practitioners provide services to people with AD, including people with AD who live alone, evidence is needed on how to best promote safety and function while maintaining a client-centered approach.
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