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Biomedical subjects

P Heacock

Publications and source records attributed to P Heacock.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

"I can do it!" Dressing: promoting independence through individualized strategies.

Caregivers contribute to loss of functional performance and dependency in cognitively impaired persons when they "do for," that is, dress the person instead of supporting independence in dressing. Persons with dementia have functional reserves that can be activated when caregivers use levels of assistance, standard, and problem-oriented strategies to support the person's cognitive and physical deficits. Use of these strategies requires less than one minute of additional caregiver time and leads to positive outcomes for the person and the caregiver.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1993

Cognitively impaired elders. Using research findings to improve nursing care.

1. Cognitive changes may be similar in people with Alzheimer's disease, but each person loses abilities differently, and each individual responds differently to interventions. 2. Assessment of cognitive function is needed in order to design appropriate interventions that will be specific in facilitating independence in cognitively impaired elders. 3. Research findings suggest that functional ability in cognitively impaired elders can be maximized by assessing cognitive abilities and using this information to tailor specific interventions that will facilitate independence.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Cognitive impairment in the elderly.

This article reviews research related to assessment and interventions for cognitive impairment conducted by nurses as principal and coinvestigators. It focuses on the broad areas of delirium and dementia, which are divided into assessment and intervention-related research. The intervention research begins with descriptive studies and has subdivisions for primary and secondary symptoms. Ideas for future research follow.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1992

Disruptive behaviors of a cognitively impaired nursing home resident.

The descriptive case study of a 71-year-old man with Primary Degenerative Alzheimer's Dementia identifies and describes specific disruptive behaviors exhibited by a demented, disruptive nursing home resident and the biopsychosocial characteristics of these behaviors. The Disruptive Behavior Scale (Beck, Baldwin, Heithoff, & Cuffel, 1990) measured disruptive behaviors. Data collected included chart review, interviews, testing, and observation. The majority of observed disruptive behaviors fell under four categories: (1) walks aimlessly, (2) makes repetitive noises, (3) uses obscene/profane language, and (4) makes repetitive movements. Staff members and chart notes reported the same categories, except for "makes repetitive noises." All aggressive behavior toward the staff occurred during assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs).

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1991

Caring for the cognitively impaired. Reconceptualizing disability and rehabilitation.

Rehabilitative interventions must be based on remaining cognitive and physical abilities while recognizing the presence of disabilities. Rehabilitation goals should be to provide the least restrictive environment using the least restrictive intervention, thus promoting independence. The use of behavioral strategies that support remaining abilities and compensate for cognitive deficits is recommended as a rehabilitative approach. The behavioral approach requires an assessment of the ADL steps, the range of activities a person is able to complete, and the kinds of caregiver assistance needed.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1991

Dressing for success. Promoting independence among cognitively impaired elderly.

In demented persons, activities of daily living skills may deteriorate more quickly than their cognitive decline warrants because caregivers do not allow them to perform ADLs to the full extent of their abilities. Caregiver actions that promote independent behaviors were used with subjects in home and nursing home settings. Four of five home subjects showed decreased caregiver assistance and increased ability to dress more independently. Although nursing home subjects did not show a decrease in caregiver assistance, observation showed that some nursing home caregivers did incorporate behavioral strategies, suggesting potential clinical efficacy of the strategies.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1988

Nursing interventions for patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Common nursing concerns and patient needs within the physical, emotional, cognitive, and social dimensions are addressed. Nursing interventions that help the patients maintain the maximum level of independence for as long as possible are suggested.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Improving dressing behavior in cognitively impaired nursing home residents.

This study tested the extent to which a behavioral intervention, Strategies to Promote Independence in Dressing (SPID), improved dressing independence among 90 cognitively impaired nursing home residents (average score on Mini Mental Status Exam = 7.35 +/- .69). The effect of SPID on caregiving efficiency, the time required for nursing assistants to use the strategies, was also examined. The results showed improved independence (decrease in assistance) from 6.08 +/- .12 at baseline to 4.93 +/- .19 following 6 intervention weeks. This significant improvement in dressing independence occurred without a clinically relevant increase in caregiver time (less than 1 min). Seventy-five percent of the subjects improved one or more levels of dressing independence, and more than 20% achieved their maximum intervention effect during the first week of treatment.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A conceptual framework for achieving high-quality care in nursing homes.

Nursing home care accounts for 12% of healthcare expenditures in the United States, yet serious concerns remain about the quality of care provided in these settings. This article describes a comprehensive systems model that views organizational environments as consisting of four interacting dimensions: organizing arrangements, social factors, technology, and physical setting. This model is then used as a conceptual framework (vis-à-vis an extensive literature review) to identify factors that contribute to poor-quality care in nursing homes and to highlight previous research efforts. The literature review also provides a useful framework to guide nursing home administrators and healthcare quality professionals in their implementation of quality improvement processes and serves to help direct future research in this very important arena.

Facility Design and Construction↗