ABSTRACT
Dementia is highly prevalent in the United States with 4 million Americans being affected by Alzheimer's disease (AD) alone (National Institute on Aging, 1999). Dementias of the chronic, progressive type impair cognitive capabilities and eventually alter the ability to perform even basic tasks. The inability to remember, plan and execute movement, and express one's needs negatively affects participation in activities that were once familiar, routine, and completed nearly at a subconscious level. Once independent and productive members of their community, people with dementia are confronted with difficulty performing tasks as fundamental as bathing, dressing, toileting, and eating. As a result, many rely on family members or paid caregivers to assist them in their daily self-care routines.
