Objective: To conduct a controlled investigation to examine the effects of an abilities-focused program of morning care on the interaction behaviors and functioning of residents with dementia and on caregivers' interaction behaviors and perceptions of caregiving.
Design: A quasi-experimental, repeated measures design.
Setting: The study was conducted on four, nursing-home-level cognitive supports units in a geriatric care center. One of the units was randomly selected as the experimental unit; the other three served as controls.
Participants: The final sample consisted of 40 residents (20 each in the experimental and three control groups) and 44 caregivers (16 on the experimental unit and 28 on the three control units).
Intervention: An educational program on delivering abilities-focused morning care, designed by the authors, was provided to caregivers on the experimental unit.
Measurements: Measures were taken at baseline and at 3 and 6 months postintervention with regard to residents' interaction behaviors, level of agitation, and level of function and to caregivers' interaction behaviors, perceived ease of caregiving, and level of stress.
Results: Repeated measures analysis of variance (RM-ANOVA) was used to compare the experimental and control groups in regard to changes in the outcomes over time. Results indicated that the abilities-focused program had statistically significant effects on (a) residents' personal attending and calm/functional behaviors, level of agitation, and levels of overall and social function, and (b) caregivers' verbal relevance and personal attending, relaxed, and social/flexible behaviors.
Conclusions: The evidence suggests that both residents and caregivers benefit from morning care that is oriented toward the abilities of people with dementia.