The American Journal of Occupational Therapy; Bethesda Vol. 71, Iss. 5, (Sep/Oct 2017): 1-10.
The number of people age 65 yr and older with a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia in the United States was estimated to be 5.2 million in 2016, and it is expected to nearly triple by 2050 (Hebert, Weuve, Scherr, & Evans, 2013). Because many older adults choose to age at home, a large proportion of people with dementia are living in the community despite increasing disabilities, generally with help from family members and health professionals (Gould et al., 2015). [...]modifications to the environment and occupations are often made by family caregivers to improve safety and reduce their stress (e.g., remove sharp knives, limit use of the oven, prevent exiting; Walker et al., 2006), but these modifications may restrict their relative's autonomy.Managing risks and balancing risk reduction with encouraging an active lifestyle are major challenges for caregivers and professionals. To read the full article, log in using your NHS OpenAthens details.