Centre for Policy on Ageing



Observed affect and quality of life in dementia — further affirmations and problems
Author(s)	M Powell Lawton, Kimberly Van Haitsma, Margaret Perkinson
Journal title	Journal of Mental Health and Aging, vol 5, no 1, Spring 1999
Pages	pp 69 -82
Keywords	Dementia ; Emotions ; Quality of life ; Assessment procedures for mental patients ; Training [welfare work].
Annotation	This article discusses the ongoing attempt to develop a rating of observed emotion in people with dementia. The comprehension of the emotional signals of the person with dementia has significant implication for caregiving. The purpose of this report is twofold: first, to explore training and use of the Apparent Affect Rating Scale (AARS) by certified nursing assistants (CNAs), rather than trained research personnel; and second, to test whether the scale showed intra-individual variations in people's affective responses as they moved from one environmental context to another. Results suggest that the instrument does possess sufficient sensitivity to the behavioural context. Clinical implications for using AARS are discussed. CNAs' reliability in carrying out this assessment was less than desirable, and suggests the need for more investment in training, repeated practice, and a commitment to quality improvement. (RH).
Accession Number	CPA-990729225 A
Classmark	EA: DL: F:59: DA:4C: QW
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...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.