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A person‐centred team approach targeting agitated and aggressive behaviour amongst nursing home residents with dementia using the Senses Framework
Author(s) -
Gillis Katrin,
Lahaye Hilde,
Dom Stijn,
Lips Dirk,
Arnouts Heidi,
Van Bogaert Peter
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
international journal of older people nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.707
H-Index - 29
eISSN - 1748-3743
pISSN - 1748-3735
DOI - 10.1111/opn.12269
Subject(s) - psychological intervention , aggression , dementia , intervention (counseling) , nursing , medicine , psychology , clinical psychology , psychiatry , disease , pathology
Abstract Purpose The increase in agitated or aggressive behaviour amongst nursing home residents with dementia is a challenging problem. Such behaviour causes stress for both resident and caregiver. Many non‐pharmacological interventions have been studied, but these interventions disregard the resident's unfulfilled needs and are executed by a single, designated caregiver. This study tests a non‐pharmacological intervention, applied by the entire team and based on the resident's underlying needs. Design A pretest and post‐test interventional study design was used, in which 65 residents with dementia who expressed agitated or aggressive behaviour. Data were collected from December 2016 until March 2017. Methods The ABC method and the Senses Framework were used to assign residents to either therapeutic touch, group music sessions or a meaningful individual activity. All staff members applied the interventions. Data were collected by use of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory‐Nursing Home version (NPI‐NH) and the Cohen‐Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI). Results The frequency of aggression, loss of decorum, depression and the severity of aggression decreased for all three interventions. However, the overall severity of fear also increased. The overall prevalence of agitated of residents decreased for the therapeutic touch, group music sessions and individual activities. Conclusions This study shows the possibilities of designing individualised interventions on the Senses Framework and the ABC method for addressing agitated and aggressive behaviour amongst nursing home residents with dementia. The framework presented in this study should be further explored. Implications for practice A team‐based approach is effective to reduce agitated or aggressive behaviour amongst nursing home residents.