Poster Presentation
Water's Edge Ballroom (Hilton Waikoloa Village)
Friday, July 15, 2005
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Water's Edge Ballroom (Hilton Waikoloa Village)
Friday, July 15, 2005
4:00 PM - 4:30 PM
An Environmental Approach to Reducing Agitation in Older Persons With Dementia in a Nursing Home
Lesley M. Wilkes, PhD, MHPEd, GradDipED, BSc, CM, RN1, Andrew Fleming, PhD, MHlthSc, BAppSc, RN2, Benjamin L. Wilkes, BPsych1, Jane Cioffi, RN, BSC, MAS3, and Jenny Le Miere, RN, ADCNS, BHM4. (1) Clinical Nursing Research Unit, Wentworth Area Health Service, Penrith, NSW, Australia, (2) Quality Systems, Southern Cross Care, NSW, Merrylands, NSW, Australia, (3) School of Nursing Family & Community Health, University of Western Sidney, Sydney, Australia, (4) Nursing, Our Lady of Consolation Aged Care Services, Rooty Hill, NSW, Australia
| Learning Objective #1: Develop an understanding of effects of challenging behaviors when persons with dementia are relocated to a special unit |
| Learning Objective #2: Develop an understanding that special care units are an essential adjunct to caring for people with dementia |
Objective: This paper aims to report the effects on challenging (agitated) behaviours, such as aggression, noisiness and wandering, when persons with dementia were relocated to a special unit. Method: The study was a simple interrupted time series quasi-experimental design. The dependent variable was agitated behaviour. The independent variables were residing in old unit and in Special Care Unit. Twenty-two persons with dementia, in a nursing home were involved in this study. The subjects were assessed weekly for one month prior to the move to the Special Care Unit and weekly for one month at three and six months after the move. Data were entered into SPSS software and analysed. Results: This study suggests there are initially changes in behaviour resulting from environmental conditions however only verbal agitated behaviour is affected in the longer term. The most significant results from the study were that the verbally agitated behaviour of the subjects was reduced and sustained throughout the six months of the study after their move into a Special Care Unit. Conclusions: Special care units (SCU) are seen as an imperative adjunct to caring for persons with dementia. This study has shown that environmental design does impact positively in the care of persons with dementia. Further research should explore components of new environments such as Snoezelen rooms and single rooms and compare with studies of units.