Late-stage dementia and participation in therapeutic activities

This study examined the participation and behavior of people with late-stag e dementia during various therapeutic activities. Subjects were able to act ively participate for 10 minutes or less 54% of the time. Caregivers were n ot responding to meet apparent resident needs 37.5% of the time. Active par ticipation was significantly correlated with having more senses stimulated. In addition, as the length of resting time increased before a scheduled th erapy, active participation significantly decreased. Subjects exhibited var ious behaviors during therapeutic activities. Behaviors were categorized as approaching and withdrawing, relaxing and tensing, mimicking, nonverbal co nnecting, and verbal connecting. Copyright (C) 1998 by W.B. Saunders Compan y.