"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.