TY - JOUR

T1 - Preliminary investigation of two functional assessment methods for people with dementia: Effectiveness and acceptability

AU - Sharp, Rebecca

AU - Lucock, Zoe

AU - Jones, Robert S.P.

PY - 2021/2

Y1 - 2021/2

N2 - Many functional assessment procedures have been developed and validated for use with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. However, there is a paucity of research exploring the utility and social acceptability of functional assessment methods for people with dementia. We conducted direct observations in the natural environment to produce data for conditional probability analysesand an experimental functional analysis of the behavior of two women with dementia. We found that the conditional probability analysis yielded similar conclusions about function as the data from the experimental functionalanalysis for both participants. Importantly, staff rated the direct observations as more socially acceptable. We also report barriers to conducting both methods in older adult settings that warrant further exploration, including the use of the assessments with people with dementia and intact vocal verbal repertoires.

AB - Many functional assessment procedures have been developed and validated for use with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. However, there is a paucity of research exploring the utility and social acceptability of functional assessment methods for people with dementia. We conducted direct observations in the natural environment to produce data for conditional probability analysesand an experimental functional analysis of the behavior of two women with dementia. We found that the conditional probability analysis yielded similar conclusions about function as the data from the experimental functionalanalysis for both participants. Importantly, staff rated the direct observations as more socially acceptable. We also report barriers to conducting both methods in older adult settings that warrant further exploration, including the use of the assessments with people with dementia and intact vocal verbal repertoires.

KW - conditional probability

KW - dementia

KW - descriptive assessment

KW - functional analysis

KW - Major Neurocognitive Disorder

U2 - 10.1002/bin.1747

DO - 10.1002/bin.1747

M3 - Article

VL - 36

SP - 93

EP - 104

JO - Behavioral Interventions

JF - Behavioral Interventions

SN - 1072-0847

IS - 1

ER -