Evaluation of Dementia Special Care Units presents particular challenges, including measuring the attainment ofgoals for residents with limited potential for treatment and rehabilitation. Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS) has been found to be a sensitive measure of individualized tangible outcomes in geriatric rehabilitation and mental health settings. In this study, GAS was used to set individualized functional and recreation goals for 10 residents of a Dementia Special Care Unit in a chronic care and rehabilitation hospital. Goal attainment was measured over a two month follow-up period GAS was found to be a feasible and responsive method of measuring individualized client goals. GAS is a promising clinical and research tool for measurement of client-centered outcomes in individuals with dementia
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