Implementation of the ETAM

The ETAM can be used both in practice (to determine ADL abilities) and in research (particularly in therapy studies). The test results show good interindividual differentiation in the area of mild and moderate dementia or MCI.

The test consists of a total of six tasks: (1a) Making tea, (1b) Alarm clock, (2) Pill organizer, (3) Finances, (4) Traffic situations, and (5) Phone calls. In the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF), the WHO describes five main categories that have been identified as particularly relevant for assessing the independence of people with dementia. There is at least one item per ICF domain.

The maximum number of points that can be achieved per task is as follows:

Note: Due to regional characteristics, it may be necessary to adapt a specific item to local customs.

A detailed list of materials can be downloaded here.

• Task 1a: Making tea. There is a cup, a kettle, and various types of tea on the table. The person being tested is asked to make a cup of tea using the type of tea of their choice.
• Task 1b: Alarm clock. The person being tested is asked to state the time currently displayed on the alarm clock. They are also asked to set the clock to 1:45 p.m.
• Task 2: Pill organizer.There is a medicine box and three packages of medication on the table. The tablets must be sorted into the medicine box.
• Task 3: Finances. There are three advertising brochures and a pile of coins on the table. The task is to find the cheapest price for butter, calculate the total price for three food items, and select the appropriate amount of money.
• Task 4: Traffic situations. The person being tested is shown six pictures depicting different traffic situations. Each of these pictures has a question that the person must answer and justify their answer.
• Task 5: Phone calls. The task is to find the phone number of a Dr. Müller, call him, and write down his office hours on a piece of paper. A portable, senior-friendly telephone with a red hang-up button and a green answer button and an accompanying SIM card with sufficient credit are available. In addition, a pen, a blank sheet of paper, and a sheet with telephone numbers are on the table. There is a recorded message (on the portable telephone) from an actual existing number. 

Prerequisites for the feasibility of the test are:

a) Existing vision and hearing abilities, supported by reading glasses or a hearing aid if necessary

b) There must be no weakness or movement disorder in the “writing hand.”

Test environment: The test should be conducted in a quiet room with good lighting. The test materials are placed on a table and should be easily accessible to the person being tested.

Test procedure: The instructions are presented to the test subject in written form. The task is then evaluated as soon as a clear answer or execution of the task has been given. If the test subject fails to complete the task even after the third request to do so, the task is terminated, and 0 points are awarded.

Test evaluation: The maximum number of points is awarded for flawless execution. The higher the score achieved (0-30), the better the individual’s ability to cope with everyday life. Detailed instructions for implementation and evaluation can be downloaded here free of charge.

Book, S., Luttenberger, K., Stemmler, M., Meyer, S., & Graessel, E. (2018). The Erlangen test of activities of daily living in persons with mild dementia or mild cognitive impairment (ETAM)–an extended validation. BMC Psychiatry, 18, 1-12.

Luttenberger, K., Reppermund, S., Schmiedeberg-Sohn, A., Book, S., & Graessel, E. (2016). Validation of the Erlangen test of activities of daily living in persons with mild dementia or mild cognitive impairment (ETAM). BMC Geriatrics, 16, 1-12.

Schmiedeberg-Sohn, A., Graessel, E., & Luttenberger, K. (2015). A direct performance test for assessing activities of daily living in patients with Mild Degenerative Dementia: the Development of the ETAM and preliminary results. Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders Extra, 5(1), 74-84.

You can register to download the test here. 

! Those responsible for this website guarantee that all information provided during registration will be treated confidentially, in particular that it will not be passed on to third parties.

Downloading is permitted only for non-commercial use, which means specifically that

1. no immediate (direct) costs are incurred by the person being tested (billing as a health insurance benefit by third parties, e.g., doctors, is possible) and
2. the ETAM is not resold to third parties in any form as part of a larger test battery (e.g., as part of a larger, fee-based assessment instrument).