| Occupation is known to play an important role in the maintenance of health. No study has explicitly explored the role that occupation (continued engagement in instrumental, leisure, and social activities) plays in the independence of the individual with Senile Dementia of the Alzheimer's Type (SDAT). By understanding the effect that both neurological deficits and occupation have on the self care and disturbing behaviors of the person with SDAT and their relationship to carer stress, it may be possible develop strategies to maximize the impaired person's behavior and minimize the carer's stress.;This descriptive correlational study of 72 couples managing the consequences of Alzheimer's disease (one spouse with SDAT) examined these relationships. The sample includes persons in the questionable, mild, moderate, and severe stages of the disease.;Preliminary analysis yielded constructs of emotion-focused and demand stress in the carer. These variables, in addition to the impaired persons' engagement in instrumental, leisure, and social activities, neurological deficits (memory and planning), and basic self care tasks were included in a structural equation model (CALIS) to examine their relationships. Several new instruments that measure the performance of persons with SDAT are introduced.;Results suggest that individuals that are engaged in occupation demonstrate fewer disturbing behaviors and their carers' experience less stress. Future implications for theory development and the clinical and policy issues associated with the findings are discussed. These findings will lead to the design of intervention studies where control groups will be employed. |
