The Alzheimer functional status instrument: An instrument to assess rehabilitation strategies for Alzheimer patients

Abstract

The Alzheimer Functional St atus Inventory (AFSI) was developed to assess a kinesiotherapy program for 22 randomized pairs ofpatients with Senile Dementia of the Alzheimer Type (SDAT) residing in the Dementia Study Unit of the Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial VA Medical Center; Bedford, Massachusetts. The AFSI was developed by an interdisciplinary team to overcome some of the limitations of standard geriatric instruments to detect changes in functional status in SDAT patients following a rehabilitation program. The AFSI, which is performance-based, includes items adapted from Granger's PULSES Profile and activity disturbances itemsfrom the Behavioral Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease Rating Scale (BEHAVE-AD), items on mood andbehaviorduring assessment, as well as, one on communication status. The AFSI thus includes items which evaluate physical, psychosocial, and cognitive dimensions offunctional status. These dimensions are: • Sensory function; • Range of motion skills including lower limb and upper limbfunction; • Mood state; • Behavioral status; and • Time to complete tasks.