ASSESSING FUNCTIONING AND SELF-CARE ABILITIES IN ALZHEIMER-DISEASE RESEARCH

Functional performance is a critical outcome to examine in dementia. T he authors review some of the limitations of current research on funct ional performance and identify a conceptual framework for outcomes res earch. When considering conceptual frameworks to apply to functional a ssessment for outcomes research, five broad issues emerge: variability in definitions, an assumed equality between functional performance an d capacity, measurement of global task abilities but not abilities for task components, lack of a contextual perspective, and use of a physi cal disability framework that excludes cognitive disability. When sele cting assessment methods, researchers also must consider the implicati ons of informant-based instruments and performance-based instruments. The authors also discuss a conceptual framework for evaluating current functional performance assessment instruments.