This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Woodhead, E. L. Articles by Femia, E. E. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Woodhead, E. L. Articles by Femia, E. E. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia: The effects of physical activity at adult day service centers

Department of Psychology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia

Steven H. Zarit, PhD

Elizabeth R. Braungart, MS

Michael R. Rovine, PhD

Elia E. Femia, PhD

Department of Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania

Adult day services (ADS) are an increasingly popular option for caregivers of people with dementia, but there is little research on the effects of activities on the behavior and mood of the client. This study examines participation by 94 individuals in different types of adult day-care activities and their association with changes in behavior and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) for the client during a three-month span. Three domains of BPSD were examined: restless behaviors, mood behaviors, and positive behaviors. Using growth curve modeling, results show that the restless and mood behavior domains, on average, were stable over three months, whereas positive behaviors increased. For all three behavior domains there were individual differences in average level of BPSD. Average rate of change for individuals also varied from the mean for restless and mood behaviors. Physical activities, social activities, engaging activities, and watching and listening activities, along with a day-care dosage variable, were used as covariates to explain these individual differences in change. Engaging activities explained some of the individual variance for restless behaviors; as individuals increased one increment in engaging activities, they had fewer restless behavior problems over time. These results suggest that some features of programming may be related to improvements in restless behavior.

Key Words: adult day services • behavior • dementia • physical activity

American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias®, Vol. 20, No. 3, 171-179 (2005)
DOI: 10.1177/153331750502000314


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				E. E. Femia, S. H. Zarit, M. A. P. Stephens, and R. Greene Impact of Adult Day Services on Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia Gerontologist, December 1, 2007; 47(6): 775 - 788. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Netz, S. Axelrad, and E. Argov Group physical activity for demented older adults feasibility and effectiveness Clinical Rehabilitation, November 1, 2007; 21(11): 977 - 986. [Abstract] [PDF]