Investigating Occupational Performance and Life Habits in Older Adults with Early Stages of Alzheimer Disease in Tehran City, Iran

Hamid Dalvand; Zeinab Kadkhodaei; Zahra Vahabi; Farnaz Etesam; Amir Almasi Hashiani

doi:10.18502/jmr.v19i2.18351

Hamid Dalvand Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Rehabilitation, Elderly Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Zeinab Kadkhodaei Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Rehabilitation, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Zahra Vahabi Department of Geriatrics, School of Medicine; Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Farnaz Etesam Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Psychosomatic Medicine Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Amir Almasi Hashiani Department of Epidemiology, School of Health, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jmr.v19i2.18351

Keywords: Alzheimer disease; Aging; Occupational performance; Life habits

Abstract

Introduction: This study investigates the occupational performance and life habits of elderly adults with early stages of Alzheimer disease.

Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. The participants were elderly adults, aged 65-85 years with Alzheimer disease who were referred to Roozbeh and Ziaeian Hospital, in addition to Kahrizak Charity in Tehran City, Iran in 2022. A total of 70 Seventy patients (36 male, 34 female) were recruited based on the convenience sampling method. The Canadian occupational performance measure and life habits questionnaire were used to determine occupational performance and life habits. Meanwhile, the data were analyzed using the independent t-test and the Mann-Whitney test using the SPSS software, version 21.

Results: The mean age of elderly males and females was 72.02±3.74 and 71.14±4.09 years, respectively. Meanwhile, 68.3% of the priorities of occupational performance were related to self-care. In the male participants, the priorities of self-care were 76.7% and in female subjects, it was 59.4%. No significant gender difference was found in satisfaction with occupational performance (P>0.05; P>0.05). In the life habit questionnaire, fitness had the highest participation level, while communication had the lowest. A significant gender difference was observed in participation levels in daily activities (P<0.05).

Conclusion: The most important occupational performance priority of elderly adults with Alzheimer disease was self-care. The highest level of participation in daily activities was related to fitness and the lowest was communication. This study helps occupational therapists identify the priorities, habits, and participation levels of men and women with early Alzheimer in daily activities.