Development of a functional measure for persons with Alzheimer's disease: The disability assessment for dementia

Objectives. This article describes the development of an assessment of func tional disability for use with proxy-respondents of community-dwelling pers ons who have Alzheimer's disease as well as a study testing its reliability . Method. Panels composed of health care professionals and caregivers of pers ons with Alzheimer's disease were used to develop the Disability Assessment for Dementia (DAD). Fifty-nine caregivers participated in the refinement o f the content and the testing of reliability. Results. The DAD includes 40 items: 17 related to basic self-care and 23 to instrumental activities of daily living. It demonstrated a high degree of internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = .96) and excellent interrater (N = 31, ICC = .95) and test-retest (N = 45, ICC = .96) reliability. In additio n, it was found not to have gender bids. Conclusion. This instrument may help clinicians and caregivers of the popul ation with Alzheimer's disease make decisions regarding the choice of suita ble interventions.