Caregiver interventions for passive behaviors in dementia: links to the NDB model

Passive behavior (PB) in persons with Alzheimer's disease (PWAD) has been overlooked despite recognition that it occurs on a daily basis and is often resistant to interventions. The purpose of this study was to describe how the experience of passivity was for the caregiver and the PWAD, factors that precipitated PB, caregiver responses that promoted engagement, and caregiver responses that intensified PB, as well as activities initiated by caregivers over the past month that reduced passivity in the person with dementia (PWD). Fifty caregivers of community-dwelling persons with mild (n = 15), moderate (n = 16), and severe (n = 19) Alzheimer's disease participated in a semi-structured interview. Data were analyzed using Colaizzi's Phenomenological Thematic Extraction and descriptive statistics. Caregivers identified decreased levels of activity, decreased verbalization, withdrawal, less socialization, and decreased interest in activities as examples of PBs. For caregivers, the experience of coping with PBs engendered frustration with their loved ones' cognitive deterioration, difficulty in watching and accepting loss of function, fatigue, sadness, and using coping skills. Paradoxically, both being alone and increased environmental stimuli precipitated PB. Feelings of helplessness and loss of control by the person also caused PB. The most successful interventions to promote engagement were: giving cues and assistance, initiating the task, giving guidance, and providing enjoyable activities. Responses that hindered engagement included: 'correcting' or putting stress on the person, rushing activities, and repeating directions. Faith, humor, patience, and contact with friends and family were identified as positive approaches. Caregiver interventions demonstrated synchrony with selected background and proximal variables in the Need-driven Dementia-compromised Behavior (NDB) model.