Person-centered Assessment of People Living with Dementia: Review of Existing Measures

Overview

Journal Alzheimers Dement (N Y)

Date 2021 Jun 7

PMID 34095438

Citations 10

Authors

Benjamin T Mast

Sheila L Molony

Nicholas Nicholson

Caroline Kate Keefe

Diana DiGasbarro

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: Person-centered care and assessment calls for measurement tools that help researchers and providers understand people with dementia, their social relationships, and their experience of the care environment. This paper reviewed available measures and evaluated their psychometric properties.

Methods: Literature searches of major databases (PsycInfo, PubMed, EBSCO, CINAHL) for papers examining person-centered constructs in samples of people living with dementia or mild cognitive impairment. Reliability and validity coefficients were reviewed and reported.

Results: We identified 26 unique measures that had been tested in samples of people living with dementia. Twelve measures of hope, well-being, engagement, social relationships, meaning, resilience, stigma, spiritual beliefs and practices, values and preferences, and positive psychology constructs had strong psychometric properties in samples with dementia.

Discussion: A variety of reliability and valid measures were identified for use in person-centered care and research with people living with dementia. Additional measure development is needed for key person-centered concepts including dignity and strengths.

Citing Articles

Meaningful to whom? Minimal clinically important differences and the priorities of individuals living with dementia for everyday function.

Gilmore-Bykovskyi A, Dillon K, Fields B, Benson C, Edwards D Alzheimers Dement (N Y). 2025; 11(1):e70052.

PMID: 39975468 PMC: 11837733. DOI: 10.1002/trc2.70052.

Two new positive psychosocial measures for persons living with dementia.

Molony S, Fazio S, Van Haitsma K, Feinn R, Montminy J, Rulison M Alzheimers Dement (N Y). 2025; 11(1):e70024.

PMID: 39975464 PMC: 11837736. DOI: 10.1002/trc2.70024.

Religious participation is associated with fewer dementia diagnoses among Black people in the United States.

Griffith E, Robbins P, Ferede B, Bentley-Edwards K Am J Hum Biol. 2024; 36(12):e24125.

PMID: 38940191 PMC: 11646185. DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.24125.

A Multidimensional, Person-Centered Framework for Functional Assessment in Dementia: Insights from the 'What', 'How', 'To Whom', and 'How Much' Questions.

Slachevsky A, Grandi F, Thumala D, Baez S, Santamaria-Garcia H, Schmitter-Edgecombe M J Alzheimers Dis. 2024; 99(4):1187-1205.

PMID: 38758997 PMC: 11178450. DOI: 10.3233/JAD-230376.

Spiritual Needs of Older Adults Living with Dementia: An Integrative Review.

Britt K, Boateng A, Zhao H, Ezeokonkwo F, Federwitz C, Epps F Healthcare (Basel). 2023; 11(9).

PMID: 37174861 PMC: 10178032. DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11091319.

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