Project TAP: Tailored Activities Project

Inclusion Criteria:

• Care Recipient
• English Speaking
• NINCDS-ADRDA diagnosis[physician generated of dementia or mini-mental state examination score of less than or equal to 23;3] Able to feel self; and participates in at least 2 other activities of daily living[ADLs-Bathing, Dressing, Grooming, Toileting, Transferring from bed to chair] As reported by caregiver.
• Caregiver
• English Speaking
• Family member 21 years of age or older [male or female]
• Lives with Care Recipient
• Has telephone in the home
• Plans to live in area for 8 months
• Indicated willingness to learn new approaches by which to engage care recipient in meaningful activities
• Provides 4 or more hours a day directly caring or providing for care recipient

Exclusion Criteria:

• Care Recipient
• Has Schizophrenia or Bi-Polar Disorder
• Their Dementia is secondary to probable head trauma
• Their MMSE score is equal to zero and they are bed bound, defined as confinement to bed or chair for at least 22 hours a day for at least 4 of 7 days
• They are not responsive to their environment
• Caregiver
• Are currently involved in another clinical trial of psycho-social or educational interventions for caregivers
• Are planning to place their family member in a nursing home within the next 8 months. Also, the care recipient/caregiver dyad will be excluded if either caregiver or care recipient: 1) has a terminal illness with life expectancy less than 8 months 2)is in active treatment for cancer or 3) has had greater than 3 acute medical hospitalizations within the past year.