A Study on the Clothing Behavior of Dementia Inpatient

This research explored the clothing behavior of dementia inpatient according to the dementia severity, dementia type and demographic characteristics. Data were collected by surveying 149 dementia inpatients and their caregivers. The collected data were analysed through frequency analysis, -test, one way ANOVA, Duncan's multiple range test and t-test. The results were as follows: First, the dementia severity was classified into the severe, moderate and mild dementia by K-MMSE and the dementia types were composed of Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia and the others. The severe dementia group and Alzheimer's disease group included the more aged and more female inpatients. And the severe dementia group was lower self-support of the basic activities of daily living than the mild dementia group. Second, the change motions of the dementia inpatient's clothing differed from the clothing item and dementia severity. That is, the motions for pants were more difficult than those for upper garment. And the motions for severe dementia group were more difficult than those for the mild dementia group. Third, there were significant differences among the three groups by dementia severity and between the male and female dementia inpatient in the clothing behavior. Most of abnormal clothing behaviors were found in the severe dementia group. The positive clothing behaviors appeared in the mild dementia group. And interests of clothing and appearance appeared in the female inpatients.