To see the other types of publications on this topic, follow the link: Dementia – Nursing.
Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Dementia – Nursing'
Create a spot-on reference in APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, and other styles
Consult the top 50 dissertations / theses for your research on the topic 'Dementia – Nursing.'
Next to every source in the list of references, there is an 'Add to bibliography' button. Press on it, and we will generate automatically the bibliographic reference to the chosen work in the citation style you need: APA, MLA, Harvard, Chicago, Vancouver, etc.
You can also download the full text of the academic publication as pdf and read online its abstract whenever available in the metadata.
Browse dissertations / theses on a wide variety of disciplines and organise your bibliography correctly.
1
Spears, Michelle Monique. "Nonpharmacological Behavioral Interventions for Patients with Dementia: An Integrative Literature Review." ScholarWorks, 2018. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/5658.
Full textAbstract:
The use of antipsychotic medications in older adults with dementia increases risk of
mortality; therefore, it is critical that nurses use nonpharmacological interventions in dementia care. The nurses' role is integral to implementation of treatment strategies to dementia patients and efforts to improve care in patients with dementia using a nonpharmacological approach are necessary. Therefore, guidelines outlining nonpharmacologic dementia care management will enable nurses to provide a wider spectrum of care to dementia patients. The purpose of this project was to make recommendations for the development and implementation of interdisciplinary practice guidelines to standardize care in the organizational setting. An integrative literature review was conducted using the Fineout-Overholt, Melnyk, Stillwell, and Williamson's analytical approach to reviewing evidence using 7 levels for evaluating the hierarchy of evidence. Inclusion criteria were limited to studies from January 2010 to October 2017 in English with full text. A total of 16 studies were reviewed and categorized according to 1 of the 7 hierarchical levels. Findings were summarized at each appropriate level and included systematic review or meta-analysis, randomized controlled trials, controlled trial without randomization, case-control or cohort studies, qualitative or descriptive studies and expert opinion or consensus. Non-pharmacological approaches including music therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, distraction, horticultural therapy, ear acupressure, and cognitive stimulation were all shown to be effective in dementia care. Social change based on this project targets improving nurses' knowledge of nonpharmacological interventions in dementia care.
2
Newton, Lindy. "The impact of dementia care mapping on nursing staff." Thesis, University of Leicester, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/2381/31215.
Full textAbstract:
The literature regarding dementia care mapping (DCM) and its use as a reliable, valid and efficient tool to assess care practice, is reviewed. Evidence of the growing efficacy of DCM is provided, however, the need for further development and research in a number of areas is highlighted, including nursing staff's experiences of DCM and the impact it has on them. The current study aimed to explore the impact of dementia care mapping (DCM) on nursing staff. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight participants and grounded theory was used to analyse the transcripts. The analysis revealed one core category of conflict and four main categories of carer's role, learning processes, responses and learning consequences. The impact of DCM was such that it represented a learning process that interacted with the carer's role, evoked a response and produced learning consequences. Furthermore, DCM was such that it both induced and reduced conflict for the participants. The findings provide an insight for clinicians working in the field of dementia care who are involved in the training, development and support for nursing staff. Further research is required to define the role and needs of nursing staff who care for individuals with dementia. In addition continued investigation into effectively implementing tools, like DCM, for the purposes of staff development is also required. The critical appraisal reflects on the process and experience of conducting research. Learning points are considered from the difficulties faced to inform future practice.
3
Bainbridge, Samantha. "Experiences of hospitalized patients with dementia." Honors in the Major Thesis, University of Central Florida, 2012. http://digital.library.ucf.edu/cdm/ref/collection/ETH/id/657.
Full textAbstract:
People with dementia are hospitalized for a variety of reasons. The combination of dementia with additional health conditions creates a unique challenge to caregivers in acute care settings. There is a dearth of information available to provide guidance to the nursing staff caring for these patients. This integrated review of the literature examined the experiences of hospitalization from the perspective of the older adult with dementia, the family caregiver, and the patient care staff. Results showed a limited body of literature that addressed hospital experiences of people with dementia and those of family and professional caregivers. Additionally, few studies addressing this topic have been conducted in the United States. The primary finding from this study is that better communication is needed between nursing staff, patients, and their family caregivers. Nurses should carry out detailed assessments of cognition and pain in all elderly patients, and strive to provide appropriate palliative and end-of-life care. Dementia- specific training for all staff members may help to promote a better understanding of patients with dementia. Lastly, further research into the experiences of hospitalized dementia patients is needed, with a focus on acute care settings within the United States.B.S.N.
Bachelors
Nursing
Nursing
4
Rogers, Willetta Howell. "Psychological well-being of family caregivers of dementia patients in nursing homes." free to MU campus, to others for purchase, 1999. http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/mo/fullcit?p9946290.
Full text
5
Blackmon, Tami Felicia. "A Nursing Education Program to Decrease Use of Psychotropics Among Dementia Patients." ScholarWorks, 2018. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/5979.
Full textAbstract:
Dementia, a clinical condition that affects the psychological ability of patients, is distinguished by a significant overall decline in cognitive function that results in distorted perception. Guiding nursing practice in the long-term care (LTC) setting to decrease the unnecessary use of psychotropics is critical because doing so relates to the patients' quality of life and safety. In the LTC facility that served as the practicum site for this study, there was an observed overuse of psychotropic medications in the care of patients with dementia. The practice-focused question guiding this project asked whether a nursing staff development program would decrease the use of psychotropics in dementia patients. The purpose of the project was to inform nursing staff through an educational program on alternative methods to use when dementia patients exhibit increased disturbing behaviors. The conceptual framework for the project was the knowledge-to-action model. The nursing staff development program had a positive effect on the nursing staff as evidenced by a statistically significant improvement in knowledge and attitudes about the use of psychotropics in caring for dementia patients. The use of psychotropic in the dementia patient decreased from 22.32% to 15.77%, the lowest score achieved by the organization in 5 years. The dementia patients benefited from this project and its positive social change implications for nursing practice by decreasing dementia patients use of psychotropics, minimizing their side effects to the patients and providing an overall feeling of well-being.
6
Sasat, Siriphan. "Caring for dementia in Thailand : a study of family care for demented elderly relatives in Thai Buddhist society." Thesis, University of Hull, 1998. http://hydra.hull.ac.uk/resources/hull:12346.
Full textAbstract:
This study explores the nature of caring for elderly demented relatives living at home in Thailand. Structured and semi-structured interviews were carried out with 44 pairs of known cases of demented patients (subjects), who received treatment at out-patient departments (OPD) in three selected hospitals, and their principal carers. The Thai Mental State Examination (TMSE) and Behaviour Rating Scale (BRS) were applied to subjects, the Caregiver Strain Index (CSI) was applied to carers, and the Network Assessment tool was applied to both subjects and carers. Significant correlations were found between levels of strain in carers and the cognitive impairment and physical dependence of subjects. Spouse carers experienced significantly less strain, but reported more stress and physical strain and a poorer current relationship than younger relative carers. The vast majority of subjects (94%) and more than half (57%) of carers had a small support network. Three-quarters of carers needed information about dementia illness and how to provide care at home and two-thirds felt the elderly relative should receive financial support. Despite difficulties in caring, three-quarters of carers were still willing to continue to provide care. The primary motivation to care was derived from a strong filial obligation based on Buddhist belief of 'reciprocity.' The effects of the caring relationship and the quality of care need further investigation. Policy recommendations include providing health education, financial support, and carers support groups.
7
Henderson, Jo-Anne. "A grounded theory study, nursing aides learning to care for nursing home residents with dementia." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 2000. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk1/tape4/PQDD_0024/MQ62129.pdf.
Full text
8
Connell, Bettye Rose. "'Elopement' opportunities among dementia patients in nursing homes : architectural considerations." Diss., Georgia Institute of Technology, 1992. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/23363.
Full text
9
Dawson, Margaret R. "Psychosocial management of dementia for skilled nursing staff| A curriculum." Thesis, California State University, Long Beach, 2017. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10260086.
Full textAbstract:
As the number of older adults with dementia in nursing facilities grows, so does the need for holistic dementia training for nursing home staff. This curriculum was designed as a training tool for all nursing facility staff in order to provide practical education on how to develop individualized, psychosocial interventions for residents that have dementia. The curriculum is presented in two parts. Part I is a simulation activity and discussion to create empathy among staff members by demonstrating the perspective of an older adult with dementia. Part II is a guided practice activity on how to identify important interests and characteristics of an individual resident and apply this knowledge to create effective interventions. The training is a total of approximately 4 hours and focuses on teaching staff skills that will allow them to continue to target dementia symptoms with psychosocial interventions. The curriculum also includes a trainer’s guide, handouts, and a survey tool for evaluation.
10
Hunt, Debra A. "The lived experience of young-onset dementia." Doctoral diss., University of Central Florida, 2011. http://digital.library.ucf.edu/cdm/ref/collection/ETD/id/4926.
Full textAbstract:
Six themes were extracted from 19 conversational interviews with persons living with young-onset dementia: feeling frustrated, fear of slipping away, loss of personhood, life interrupted, finding a sense of security in the familiar, and wanting one's voice to be heard. These themes are interpretations of the human experience of living with dementia and are not intended to be generalizations or theoretical concepts. The experiences described in this study raise awareness about young-onset dementia and help health care practitioners and society-at-large develop a better understanding of what it is like to live with the disease. The misperception that people suffering from dementia do not have insight and the underestimation of their abilities is a great source of frustration for these people. Study findings also suggest that middle-age people with dementia want to be involved in meaningful, productive activities. Their resounding plea is to have their personhood embraced instead of negated.; The lived experiences of dementia in older persons have been well studied, but the unique experiences of persons between ages 35 and 65 years who are living with young-onset dementia have not been closely examined. The purpose of this research was to explore the experiences of middle-aged individuals living with young-onset dementia. Van Manen's (1990) approach to interpretive phenomenological inquiry was used to answer the research question. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 9 people between 42 and 61 years of age who received a formal diagnosis of mild or early-stage dementia. Participants were prescreened for the ability to reflect on their illness and the Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ) was used to verify the participant's eligibility. Semi-structured, conversational interviews were used to gather the data. Consistent with van Manen's method of phenomenological reflection, theme analysis using the selective approach was used to grasp the essential meanings of the experience. Each participant was interviewed a minimum of two times.ID: 029808958; System requirements: World Wide Web browser and PDF reader.; Mode of access: World Wide Web.; Includes curriculum vitae.; Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Central Florida, 2011.; Includes bibliographical references.
Ph.D.
Doctorate
Nursing
11
Edin, Ann-Sofie, and Linda Nicolaisen. "Hinder och möjligheter för sjuksköterskan att identifiera faktorer som påverkar undernäring hos äldre dementa på äldreboenden : En deskriptiv litteraturstudie." Thesis, Högskolan i Gävle, Avdelningen för hälso- och vårdvetenskap, 2014. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-18018.
Full textAbstract:
Sammanfattning Bakgrund: På grund av att människor lever längre så kommer antal personer med demens också att öka. Med stigande ålder och ökad närvaro av kroniska sjukdomar så som demenssjukdom, blir det även en ökning av undernäringsproblematik hos den äldre befolkningen. Syftet: Föreliggande litteraturstudies syfte var att beskriva hinder och möjligheter för att sjuksköterskan ska kunna uppmärksamma, förhindra och minimera undernäring hos äldre dementa på äldreboenden. Syftet var också att granska artiklarnas kvalitét utifrån den metodologiska aspekten urval. Metod: En litteraturstudie med deskriptiv ansats genomfördes baserat på 16 vetenskapliga artiklar som söktes i databaserna Pubmed, Chinal och Scopus. Resultat: Studien visar att demenssjukdomens tre stadier orsakar nutritionsproblem. Bristande kommunikation och interaktion, utebliven måltidsträning och biverkningar av vissa läkemedel påverkade dementa äldres nutrition på ett negativt sett. Uteblivna bedömningar och bristande utbildning/kunskap hindrar sjuksköterskan att uppmärksamma undernäringar. Sjuksköterskan kan använda sig av mätinstrument till hjälp för att upptäcka undernäring och de med risk för undernäring. Sjuksköterskan kan ändra i miljön samt sätta in hjälpinsatser så som näringsdrycker, så det ska gynna nutritionen bättre. Måltidsträning har visat sig hjälpa personer med demens att minska sina ätsvårigheter och öka i vikt. Näringskunskapen visade sig vara högre bland dem med högre utbildning. Slutsats: Sjuksköterskor som arbetar på äldreboenden för dementa äldre, har ett ansvar att se till att näringsbehoven blir uppfyllda. Nutritionsvård är ett teamarbete. I en del av sjuksköterskans arbetsområde ingår rollen som ledare, vilket innebär att utbilda och informera övrig vårdpersonal i nutritionsvård. Det finns mycket forskning kring demens och undernäring, men få studier har genomförts utifrån den dementa personens perspektiv. Därför är ytterligare forskning baserat på intervjuer med dementa personer relevant.Abstract. Background: Because people live longer the number of people with dementia will also increase. With old age and increasing presence of chronic diseases such as dementia, it will also be an increase in the malnutrition problem in the elderly population. Aim: The present study’s aim was to describe the obstacles and opportunities for the nurse to pay attention to, prevent and minimize malnutrition in elderly demented in geriatric care. The aim was also to scrutinize the quality of the articles based on the methodological aspect selection. Method: A literature review with a descriptive approach was conducted based on 16 research articles that were searched in PubMed, Scopus and Chinal. Results: The study shows that the three stages of dementia causes nutritional problems. Lack of communication and interaction in the eating environment, lack of mealtime training and side effects of certain drugs affected the nutrition of people with dementia negatively. Lack of assessments and the lack of education / knowledge hinders the nurse to detect malnutrition. The nurse can use instruments to help to detect malnutrition and those at risk of malnutrition. The nurse may also change in the environment and put into relief efforts such as nutritional beverages, so that it benefits the nutrition better. Mealtime training has been shown to help people with dementia to reduce their eating difficulties and gain weight. Nutritional knowledge was found to be higher among those with higher education Conclusion: Nurses, who work in nursing homes for older people with dementia, have a responsibility to ensure that nutritional needs are met. Nutritional care is a team work. Parts of the nurse’s work include the role of being a leader, which means to educate and inform other healthcare professionals in nutritional care. There is extensive research on dementia and malnutrition, but few studies have been conducted using the demented person's perspective. Therefore, further research based on interviews with people with dementia is relevant.
12
Hill, Heather. "Talking the talk but not walking the walk : barriers to person centred care in dementia /." Access full text, 2004. http://www.lib.latrobe.edu.au/thesis/public/adt-LTU20041215.100826/index.html.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (Ph.D.) -- La Trobe University, 2004."A thesis submitted in total fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora." Research. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 343-362). Also available via the World Wide Web.
13
Ransby, Shawen Denise. "Dementia Caregive Module and Pamphlet." ScholarWorks, 2016. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/2999.
Full textAbstract:
Dementia care is an immediate and growing issue that affects everyone. People are living longer increasing the likelihood that they may be diagnosed with dementia. Friends and family are become caregivers but are often unprepared for the role. The purpose of this project was to develop a 15-minute dementia care module to assist caregivers with the home care of dementia patients. A pamphlet was created to reinforce the module information and to provide a quick reference for dementia support. The self-efficacy theory, along with the review of best practice guidelines and evidence from literature, informed the development of the module. The Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG) and the Flesch Reading Ease scales were used to ensure that the written materials were at an appropriate reading level for the targeted group. A single group evaluation was used to determine whether caregivers would be able to understand and use the information. A total of 5 lay dementia caregivers volunteered to evaluate the dementia module and related pamphlet. They volunteered to provide feedback using Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) tool. Four out of the 5 caregivers strongly agreed or agreed that the module met the designated criteria. All participants stated that the information presented in the module/pamphlet was applicable to their circumstance as dementia caregivers, that the information would assist to provide better care for their loved one, and that they would recommend the dementia module to other caregivers. This project will have a positive impact on social change by providing dementia caregivers with strategies and information to deliver quality dementia care for their loved ones.
14
Ford, Brianne Patricse. "Assessing pain in older adults with dementia." Diss., University of Iowa, 2013. https://ir.uiowa.edu/etd/6574.
Full textAbstract:
As dementia progresses older adults may lose the ability to communicate their pain experiences to healthcare providers, relying on the ability of the provider to infer their pain (Kelley, Siegler, & Reid, 2008; Pesonen et al., 2009). In the long-term care setting, the licensed nurse and certified nurse aide provide direct patient care to these residents and may be more likely to identify nonverbal behaviors that may indicate pain (Nygaard & Jarland, 2006; Pautex, Herrmann, Michon, Giannakopoulos, & Gold, 2007). The Conceptual Model for Assessing Pain in Nonverbal Persons with Dementia highlights provider, patient, and method-related factors that can hinder the process of inferring pain in nonverbal persons with dementia. The purpose of this dissertation is to explore the impact of these potential barriers on pain assessment/screening. Each chapter of this dissertation explores provider, patient, or method-related factors that impair the judgment of pain in others, either through an integrative review of the literature or by secondary analysis of a data set that was originally collected for the psychometric evaluation of the Non-communicative Patient's Pain Assessment Instrument. Statistical analysis was completed using SPSS version 21.0. Results indicate that nurse-related factors are well supported in the literature as barriers to pain assessment and can impair the nurses' pain assessment decisions. Ethnic differences in the expression of the nonverbal pain behavior "pain words," signify the role of patient-related factors on the pain assessment process. Lastly, examination of method-related factors support the benefits of training staff to use nonverbal pain assessment tools, with those staff members who were trained having greater accuracy in pain assessment when compared to untrained raters. In closing, this dissertation has implications for nursing science, education, policy, and practice and serves as a valuable contribution to the current literature.
15
Åkerlund, Britt Mari. "Dementia care in an ethical perspective : an exploratory study of caregivers' experiences of ethical conflicts when feeding severely demented patients." Doctoral thesis, Umeå universitet, Geriatrik, 1990. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-101294.
Full textAbstract:
The aim of this study was to explore how caregivers caring for severely demented patients experience ethical conflict situations. Feeding patients in a late state of dementia was chosen as focus. Special attention was paid to analyses of the caregivers' experiences with regard to their feelings, use of force, interpretations of the patients' behaviour and their ethical reasoning. The study was carried out in five separate parts, presented as five papers. A phenomenological - hermeneutic approach was consistent. Personal interviews, a projective defence mechanism test, the Meta Contrast Technique and an analysis of patient/caregiver behaviour as shown in video taped feeding sessions were the methods used. Study participants were forty-one caregivers in psychogeriatric care, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and nurses' assistants. The result indicated that, when facing ethical decisions the caregivers were caught in a double bind conflict due to the contradicting ethical demands "Keep the patient alive!" and "Don't cause the patient suffering!". The difficulty to interpret what the patients experienced and the impossibility to know for sure what actions would be right or wrong were sources of anxiety. They defined force feeding individually, yet a pattern was found. Some caregivers defined force feeding according to the amount of persuasiveness or violence they had to perform. Some regarded force feeding from a patient wish perspective. A majority combined the two dimensions. The caregivers' ethical reasoning showed that their decision making was to be regarded as a process grounded on ethical rules. Interdependence in the relation caregiver/patient made them develop their reasoning in a direction of existential reasoning.S. 1-38: sammanfattning, s. 39-113: 5 uppsatser
digitalisering@umu
16
Oya, Kumi. "A Narrative Inquiry on Culturally Competent Dementia Care." Thesis, California Institute of Integral Studies, 2018. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10814538.
Full textAbstract:
This narrative research offers an inquiry that intends to inspire thinking about a culturally competent dementia care framework in the United States. The main research question is: How does a culture hold dementia care? A subquestion is: What can we in the United States learn from other cultures about dementia care to enhance this care for all? The inquiry was designed to conduct narrative research focusing on Japanese culture in the context of caregiving to people with dementia; 4 professional and 4 family caregivers from this culture, who have cared or have been caring for persons with dementia, were interviewed. The narratives reflected the caregivers' lived experiences and how they were culturally compelled to give and sustain care.
This inquiry assumes that a person-centered dementia care model is challenging for the U.S. healthcare system, despite attempts to do so, due to the prevailing values and beliefs in the United States that center around a cure model as opposed to a care model. It also assumes that ideal person-centered dementia care in the United States needs to pay close attention to the cultural competence of caregivers and healthcare professionals, as their clients identify as persons through their cultural ways of being. These assumptions are grounded in the literature review.
As a result of narrative data analysis, 5 themes emerged from the data among family caregivers, and 2 themes among professional caregivers as the commonality. In addition, 4 themes emerged not as common themes but as unique themes. This dissertation examined Japanese interdependent construal of the self and demonstrated that these themes could be explained through understanding Japanese sense of self.
It is evident that interdependence between the self and others is deeply embedded in Japanese culture. Without a doubt, interdependence uniquely manifests in the caregivers’ attitudes, values and worldviews of caregiving in Japanese culture. Although the limited number of participants should be considered, these findings/caregivers’ insights generated from this study aim to promote and encourage dialogues regarding what culturally competent dementia care looks like among caregivers and beyond in the United States when taking care of people from different cultures.
17
Xia, Nan, and 夏楠. "Dementia literacy among nursing students in mainland China : a cross sectional study in three cities." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10722/206468.
Full textAbstract:
Background: Dementia is a global chronicle disease which will impact on millions of elders in the following decades. The increased number of patients would be a huge burden for healthcare professionals. It is important to equip nursing students with proper knowledge and attitude to care for patients with dementia in the clinical practicing; however, little is known about the current dementia literacy level among Chinese nursing students.
Objective: The aim of the current study are (1) to test the psychometric properties of the Modified Dementia Attitude Scale-Chinese Version (MDAS-C), (2) to investigate the current dementia literacy level among Chinese nursing students in three cities in China, and (3) to identify factors that were associated with nursing students’ dementia literacy.
Method: The study consisted of two phases. Phase I was a validation study with cross-sectional design, surveying Year III nursing students in one university in Mainland China. Content validity, internal consistency, convergent validity, the exploratory factor analysis, and the test-retest reliability testing were employed to test the psychometric properties of the MDAS-C. Phase II employed cross-sectional design, surveying all year nursing students in three universities in China. Demographic information, dementia knowledge, attitude toward patients with dementia, and perceptions about healthcare professionals and services related to dementia were measured. Factors that associated with dementia literacy were evaluated.
Results: In phase I, a total of 223 students participated. The MDAS-C contained 12 items, and the Cronbach’s alpha of the scale was 0.685. Three factors (‘Interaction with Patient with Dementia’, ‘Responses to Patient with Dementia’ and ‘Feelings of Patient with Dementia’) were identified, explaining 48.50% of variance. The MDAS-C was positively correlated with Kogan Attitude toward Older People Scale- Chinese Version (KAOP-C) (r=0.458, p<0.001) and its positive subscale (r=0.421, p<0.001). The Pearson-correlation for the 2-week interval test-retest reliability for the scale was 0.703 (p<0.001), which was adequate.
In Phase II, 563 subjects participated. The mean score of Alzheimer’s Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS) was 18.92 (SD = 2.90), which was equivalent to 63.1% of the correct answer. Three factors, namely location, year of study, and whether they knew a person with dementia, were associated with their knowledge. The mean score of MDAS-C was 53.71 (SD= 8.59), which was equivalent to 63.9% of the total score. This result reflected that the participants held positive attitudes toward patients with dementia. Two factors, namely location and whether they knew a person with dementia, were associated with their attitudes toward patients with dementia. Majority of the subjects (93.8%) were not aware of community services provided for patients with dementia. Most subjects (92.2%) ranked skill-training services for both patients and caregivers as the most helpful one. Among healthcare professionals, the majority (91.8%) of the participants considered nurses as the most helpful personnel to patients with dementia.
Discussion and Conclusion: The current study showed that the MDAS-C had good psychometric properties. This instrument can be used for research and clinical practices. The study also contributed to the understanding of dementia literacy among Chinese nursing students and factors associated with dementia literacy.published_or_final_version
Nursing Studies
Master
Master of Philosophy
18
Hebert, Catherine. "An Exploration of Dementia Friendly Communities from the Perspective of Persons Living with Dementia." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2017. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/3324.
Full textAbstract:
The growing global prevalence of dementia coupled with a shift in public perception from a hopeless disease to the possibility of living well with dementia has led to the formation of dementia friendly communities (DFC). DFCs are a new phenomenon in the United States, with a gap in knowledge on input from people living with dementia (PLWD). This study investigated DFCs from the perspective of PLWD in Western North Carolina, with the following research questions: How are interactions and relationships experienced by persons living with dementia in the community? How is community engagement experienced by PLWD? To what extent and in what way is the impact of stigma associated with dementia? What are the attributes of a DFC from the perspective of PLWD?
Eighteen older adults with reported dementia or memory loss were recruited from support groups or community organizations. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in participants’ homes and analyzed using conventional qualitative content analysis.
Three major themes emerged from the transcribed interviews (a) transitions in cognition: vulnerable identities, (b) social connections, and (c) engagement in life activities. The dynamic experience of living with dementia revealed by participants suggested the following attributes of a DFC: (a) social inclusion, (b) support for role continuity, (c) availability of meaningful and contributory activities, (d) flexible support as cognition transitions, (e) community dementia awareness (to combat stigma), and (f) a supportive diagnostic process. The presence of care partners in the interviews was supportive, and the evaluation to sign consent tool assisted in determination of participant capacity to self-consent.
The findings were interpreted through the theoretical frameworks of personhood, the social model of disability, human rights and citizenship, the environmental press model, and transitions theory. DFC development requires a contextual lens focused on well-being with input from multiple stakeholders including PLWD. Collaboration among community organizations supported by local, regional, and national policy supporting flexible service provision through cognitive transitions has the potential to provide a strong social network on which to build a DFC.
19
Dodds, Penny. "Pre-therapy and dementia : an action research project." Thesis, University of Brighton, 2008. https://research.brighton.ac.uk/en/studentTheses/173a5ae6-3333-485d-afa2-50884369b64d.
Full textAbstract:
This study explores the introduction of an approach called Pre-Therapy to staff working with people with dementia. Pre-Therapy contributes to the existing range of therapeutic approaches which aim to engage with the subjective experience of the world of people with dementia who have severe difficulty communicating. Pre-Therapy aims to facilitate engagement and create relationships with people who are traditionally seen as beyond contact or out of reach. The approach involves using contact reflections. The worker reflects back to the person their words, facial expressions, actions and surroundings. Until now, the application of Pre-Therapy to dementia care has not been explored in depth. An Action Research process examined the research question - What happens when staff learn and use Pre-Therapy contact reflections with people with dementia? The question involved three aspects: the response of people with dementia to contact work, the use of contact work by staff, and the learning process undergone by staff. Underpinned by values of inclusion, participation, democracy and collaboration, the study demonstrates joint inquiry and cyclical exploration. The research process involved self-participation, participation with health care staff and engagement with an expert community (The International Pre-Therapy Network). The entire research process spanned five years. Eleven staff in three residential settings participated as colearners for 18 months of the process. Located in the real world context, the study accommodated organisational flux, service instability and changes of personnel in a climate of modernization and reorganisation. Data were generated through observation, which included 14 hours of video recordings of interactions, and ongoing dialogue with health care staff and the expert community. The analytic process accompanied the research activity, using comparative analysis and Schatzman's Dimensional Analysis. Findings indicate that Pre-Therapy Contact Work has the potential to add to existing approaches in dementia care, facilitating greater self-expression of the experience of the subjective world of the person with dementia and promoting greater communication with workers. However, minor adaptations of the approach are indicated. Despite the apparent simplicity, contact work challenged staff. Barriers to learning and using contact work arose from intrapersonal, interpersonal and contextual factors. Factors which mediated the learning and use of contact work led to the emergence of a theoretical model of the emotional management of interactions. Resting on theories of constructed role identities, the model contains two contrasting positions: the emotional custodian and the emotional container. The thesis proposes that the model may be part of an underlying social process around maintaining emotional social order in interactions with people with dementia. In turn, this may help understand difficulties workers face when engaging in the emotional world of people with dementia and enacting values of being person-centred which are inherent in the policy and literature.
20
Samarin, Sharon Dianne. "Dementia-Spcific Education in an Assisted Living Facility." ScholarWorks, 2018. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/6109.
Full textAbstract:
Providing competent, high-quality, and person-centered care is important in the healthcare environment, including the care for the aging and training of those who provide care. A knowledge gap in dementia-specific training was identified at an assisted living facility. The purpose of this project was to answer the question whether a dementia-specific educational staff training program would improve staff members' knowledge and application of dementia-specific competencies as well as caring behaviors. Watson's theory of human caring, the theory of planned behavior, and Leininger's framework of culture care were used to inform this project. The educational project evaluated the success of implementing nurse caring behaviors and a dementia-specific training program. Data collection included analysis of the responses of 20 facility personnel to a survey validating the needs assessment. Results of pre- and posttesting of each educational module demonstrated a statistically significant improvement (p =.0001), and observation of staff-resident interactions demonstrated 100% achievement on the competency checklist across all project participants. Qualitative analyses of data gathered from participants' discussions resulted in 4 themes: (a) the characteristics of dementia care, (b) individual caregiver attitudes, (c) knowledge deficit, and (d) the importance of caring behaviors. Educational training methods were found effective to elicit nursing staff behavior change and improve understanding of the dementia patient and requisite care, which represents a significant positive social change and enhanced care for the dementia patient in the assisted living facility.
21
Moroz, Marina, Jeannie Lee, and Sandra Brownstein. "Quality Improvement Project: Reduction of Antipsychotic Use in Nursing Home Patients with Dementia." The University of Arizona, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/614269.
Full textAbstract:
Class of 2013 AbstractSpecific Aims: The purpose of the project was to determine if implementation of a detailed pharmacist recommendation form written for providers, could be an effective tool to reduce the use of antipsychotics in the psychiatric nursing home patients with dementia by 15%. Methods: The project was conducted by a pharmacy student and a consultant pharmacist at a single psychiatric nursing home. Thirty recommendations were written to the nursing home providers. The prescribers made comments on the forms and returned them to investigators for analysis. Active orders were compared pre and post pharmacy recommendations. Main Results: Of the 30 interventions, the prescriber addressed 26 (87%) recommendations and agreed to 15 (58%) of them. Nine recommendations involved either a GDR, discontinuation of a medication, or switching to a non-pharmacological method. Six of the nine (66%) recommendations led to the prescriber reducing the dose or discontinuing the medication. Overall, six out of 30 (20%) interventions resulted in a successful reduction of the use of antipsychotics. Conclusion: This project showed that when the prescribers see a more detailed pharmacist written recommendation regarding the therapy, they are more likely to respond with an explanation. However, even though the overall reduction was 20%, black box warnings did not seem to be a deterrent for prescribing in this psychiatric nursing home. Antipsychotics are heavily relied on to control behaviors associated with dementia.
22
Abbey, Jennifer Ann, and mikewood@deakin edu au. "Death and late-stage dementia in institutions: a cultural analysis." Deakin University. School of Nursing, 1995. http://tux.lib.deakin.edu.au./adt-VDU/public/adt-VDU20050825.153139.
Full textAbstract:
The first purpose of this study was to describe the deaths of fifteen nursing home residents with late-stage dementia. The devastating effect of dementia on a person has been called a living death (Woods, 1989). The caring which occurs when someone is going through this process in a nursing home was recorded and analysed.
In analysing this act of caring, the second purpose was to look for the origins of the structures and the sources of pressure that shaped the context and therefore helped determine the behaviour of the various groups under observation. These groups were residents and their relatives, the staff of the nursing home and the treating doctors.
Before commencing observations and carrying out this study, an understanding needed to be developed of: the condition of dementia as it is perceived by health professionals and presented in the media; the institutions in which the majority of people with dementia end their days; the background and conditions of the staff who nurse in them; the models of care that guide and determine policies; and the conceptions of life and death which underpin relevant laws and moral standpoints.
Accordingly, in part 1. chapter 1 the history, causes, pathology and effects of dementing conditions are examined. Relevant medical and lay literature including media influences are examined which pertain to the subject of death and dementia and nursing home care. The history of this institutional care is briefly examined together with the growth of the discipline of gerontological nursing. Chapter 2 discusses some of the effects of this history on present day care and the concept of emotional work being carried out within the present day aged care public policy regulations. The moral arguments surrounding illness and dying in Australian society today are briefly discussed.
Chapter 3 describes the conceptual framework for the study, the ethnographic method that has been employed and an outline of critical theory as the basis for analysis. The chapter concludes by recounting the practical steps taken to arrange the field work, secure the consent of participants, record data and gather documents, and outlines the ethical considerations given to the undertaking of the study. Chapter 4 describes the context in which the study took place and the first tentative exploration of the culture from an etic perspective.
Part 2 describes the death trajectories observed and raises some questions about alternative strategies that may have been considered within a different paradigm of caring. In chapter 5 the death trajectories of each of the fifteen residents in the study are described, each written with a particular emphasis to illustrate aspects of the
culture of care that emerged through thematic analysis. Observations, comments and feelings from staff and family are wound in and around these case studies. Chapter 6 looks more closely at the impact of policy and institutional pressure on the milieu in which these deaths took place.
Part 3 draws conclusions from the observations and makes suggestions for emancipatory change as viewed from the author's standpoint of critical ethnographic analysis. In the final chapter an argument is presented for policy change that leads a movement towards palliative care practices for people with late-stage dementia. Approaches to implementation of palliative care will need to take account of any expression by the resident such as an advanced directive, indicating a preferred approach to treatment in the period prior to death; a need for a better understanding of such issues as the significance of body breakdown, the manifestations of pain and electrolyte imbalances; the surrounding ethical complexities and shift in public opinion, and perhaps, most of ail, the culture of the institutions in which this dying will take place. A definition of late-stage dementia which might be used in determining patterns of care is set out.
A discussion about changes in practice which relate lo communication with treating doctors, the administering of antibiotics, the relief of pain, the mobilisation of residents and the provision of food and water takes place in light of the evidence found. The discussion of these issues is raised in the form of debate. Each aspect needs more rigorous analysis and information so that evidence-based practice, rather than care which is value-laden and emotional, can be used when treatment decisions are made for people with late-stage dementia.
23
Jao, Ying-Ling. "Apathy and care environments in dementia and measures of activity." Diss., University of Iowa, 2014. https://ir.uiowa.edu/etd/1647.
Full textAbstract:
Objective: This dissertation includes three projects that study care environments and apathy in dementia as well as measures of activity. Project 1 developed the Person-Environment Apathy Rating (PEAR) scale to measure environmental stimulation and apathy, and tested its psychometrics. Project 2 examined the association between care environments and apathy in persons with dementia. Project 3 tested the accuracy of ActiGraph and activPALTM activity monitors in measuring weight-bearing activities among persons with previous diabetic foot ulcers.
Methods: The PEAR consists of environment (PEAR-Environment) and apathy (PEAR-Apathy) subscales. The validity and reliability of the PEAR was examined through video observation of 24 participants. Project 2 selected 40 participants with dementia in order to examine the association between apathy and environmental stimulation, ambiance, crowding, staff familiarity, and light and sound. Study procedures involved video observation and data extraction. Project 3 enrolled 31 participants to test the accuracy of ActiGraph and activPALTM in measuring number of steps taken and duration of walking, standing, sitting, and lying.
Results: The PEAR-Environment subscale had significant but fair correlation with the Crowding Index (Ρ=.27, p<.01), suggesting fair validity. The PEAR-Apathy highly correlated with the Passivity in Dementia Scale (ρ=.81) and Neuropsychiatry Inventory (NPI)-Apathy subscale (ρ=.266), and moderately correlated with the NPI-Depression subscale (ρ=.46), indicating good convergent validity and moderate discriminate validity. The PEAR also demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's Α= .84 -.85) and moderate to good inter-rater (Weighted Kappa=.47-.94) and intra-rater (Weighted Kappa=.47-.94) reliability. Project 2 revealed that stimulation clarity and strength were significantly associated with a low apathy level (p<.001). An increase of 1 point on stimulation clarity and strength corresponded to a decrease on apathy score of 1.3 and 1.9 points, respectively. Project 3 revealed that ActiGraph had widely varied accuracy in measuring duration of standing, walking, sitting, and lying (0-100%) and in measuring number of steps taken (43-81%). In contrast, activPALTM showed consistently high accuracy in measuring duration of standing, walking, sitting, and lying (97-100%) and in measuring number of steps of taken (91-99%).
Discussion: The PEAR is a valid and reliable measure of care environment and apathy in long-term care residents with dementia. Care environments that contain clear and sufficiently strong environmental stimulation are significantly associated with lower apathy levels, providing a foundation for interventions targeting apathy. ActivPALTM is a valid tool to measure weight-bearing activity in persons with diabetes in order to examine the role of weight-bearing activity in foot ulceration. This monitor may also be useful as a supplemental measure for apathy in persons with dementia.
24
Zieber, Colin George, and University of Lethbridge Faculty of Arts and Science. "Pain and agitation in the demented long term care resident." Thesis, Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Arts and Science, 2003, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/10133/210.
Full textAbstract:
This study involved 58 persons with dementia living in three rural Canadian long-term care (LTC) facilities. In an attempt to find the relationship between these person's possible pain and levels of agitation, data on five proxy indicators of pain were collected and correlated with scores from the Pittsburgh Agitation Scale (PAS). Results indicated that three of the resident pain measures were significantly correlated with PAS scores. In particular, the palliative consultant pain ratings and the DS-DAT were strongly correlated with total PAS scores, and the five PAS sub-factors. Importantly, the PAS sub-factor of resistance to care was strongly correlated with three of the pain variables. Major study implications include the need for increased use of palliative pain consultants in LTC, and the need for nursing staff to realize that when demented residents resist care, it may be a potential clue that the resident is experiencing untreated pain.xv, 116 leaves ; 29 cm.
25
Zeher, Jamie. "Young-Onset Dementia: The Child's Experience with Coping." Honors in the Major Thesis, University of Central Florida, 2013. http://digital.library.ucf.edu/cdm/ref/collection/ETH/id/936.
Full textAbstract:
Young onset dementia (YOD) affects not only the person diagnosed, but the family unit as a whole. It is estimated that as many as 500,000 people in the United States have YOD and around 250,000 children are involved in caring for these people. A child of a parent with YOD can begin to experience negative effects when the child begins to take part in caregiving for the person with young onset dementia (PWYOD). Feelings of stress, anger, fear of the future, depression, social isolation, and increasing responsibility of caring for the PWYOD can be felt by children as caregivers. Research shows that children of people with YOD have reported an extreme lack of support and decreased communication within the family. The purpose of this thesis was to examine current interventions designed to improve coping for children of parents with YOD. A review of literature using CINAHL, Medline, and PsychINFO was conducted to gather peer-reviewed articles and journals relating to interventions to help children of parents with YOD cope. However, no studies have discussed interventions specifically for the child. Therefore, information was pulled from 5 studies regarding what children of people with YOD feel has helped them, in their respective experiences, to deal with the stresses of a parent with YOD. Research suggests that individualized care should be provided for these children based on: age, developmental stage, and experience. Children have reported that they cope by spending time away from the home, participating in extracurricular activities, and spending time with friends. Clear communication by all members of the family is also reported to be vital in easing the stresses of caring for a parent with YOD. While children have developed these coping mechanisms, interventions need to be formally designed and their effect on improving coping examined. Analyzing the experiences of the children with parents with YOD is necessary for clinicians to gain insight into what interventions worked for this population, and what interventions need to be created for further and more individualized support.B.S.N.
Bachelors
Nursing
Nursing
26
Song, Yeonsu. "Rest-activity patterns in institutionalized older Korean adults with dementia." Diss., Search in ProQuest Dissertations & Theses. UC Only, 2009. http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:3378509.
Full text
27
Sharpp, Tara Joy. "An ethnography of dementia care in an assisted living facility." Diss., Search in ProQuest Dissertations & Theses. UC Only, 2008. http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:3297811.
Full text
28
Pavlů, Dominik. "Business Plan - Private Nursing Facilities." Master's thesis, Vysoké učení technické v Brně. Fakulta podnikatelská, 2016. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-255786.
Full text
29
Constable, Gillian. "The experience of caring for someone with dementia : a biographical study." Thesis, University of Southampton, 2011. https://eprints.soton.ac.uk/210223/.
Full textAbstract:
This research was about the lived experience of caring for someone with dementia. Six informal carers of people with dementia were interviewed. The carers were defined as ‘informal’ as they were family and friends, and therefore unpaid. Five of the carers were women who had or were supporting their mothers, and one was a man, who had cared for a friend. Three carers identified as lesbian or gay. I wanted to hear the stories of a group that are generally neglected in research (Turnball, 2002). Carers are diverse with a range of needs, and I wished to discover if services were ‘gay friendly’ or implicitly heterosexist. In addition I wanted lesbian and gay carers’ stories to be heard and their contribution to be recognised. The research is important as there are an estimated 750,000 people living with dementia in the UK and 500,000 partners, family members and friends are involved in caring for someone with dementia at a value of £6 billion a year, if care was provided by health and social care services (Department of Health, 2009). The research method was biographical in relation to the participants’ caring role. It explored three areas: the experience of caring, coping approaches and encounters with health and social care services. The interviews with carers took place in 2010 and the cared for had, or were living in: London, Wales, south-east and north-west England. The theoretical perspective of the research was person centred (Kitwood, 1997) set within the legislative and social policy framework for carers. The data was analysed primarily through pre-determined codes arising from the interview schedule and Skills for Care ‘Core Principles for Carers’ (2010) but also searching for patterns within and across cases. The findings were that the carers did not experience the person with dementia as a burden, but contact with health and social services was often problematic due to the fragmentation of services, lack of one practitioner co-ordinating care, and an absence of knowledge about carers’ legal entitlements. In addition services adopted a medical model of care focusing on the dementia of the cared for with limited interest in the cared for or carer’s biography, consequently services were not person centred, or gay friendly. Carers’ commitment to the person with dementia was on a continuum between the obligations of kinship and unconditional love. Positive aspects in the relationships endured in particular humour and shared activities. The messages for practice were that health and social care practitioners require training in person centred practice, as well as the legislation and policy framework for carers. Personalisation of services provides opportunities for shifting services from a task centred to person centred approach, including the development of gay friendly services .
30
Norman, Rachel Louise. "Acute nursing care for people with dementia : what happens when a person with dementia is admitted to hospital for acute care?" Thesis, University of the West of England, Bristol, 2003. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.289797.
Full text
31
Hopkins, Wendy. "Evaluating Nurses' Self-Efficacy in Caring for Patients with Dementia." ScholarWorks, 2017. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/3450.
Full textAbstract:
In 2011, 5 million Americans had dementia and this number is predicted to increase. As the number of people with dementia increases, the need for quality nursing care, education, and treatment for patients with dementia increases. To address the need, nurses not only must be prepared with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to care for patients with dementia, but they must also have the self-efficacy to provide quality care. The practice focused question guiding the project was to determine the level of self-efficacy for caring for dementia patients among long-term care nursing staff. Using Bandura's social cognitive theory, the purpose of this project was to gain information about the self-efficacy of nurses caring for dementia patients at one long-term care facility. Forty nurse participants each completed the 25-item, 5-point Likert scale Self-Efficacy in Dementia Care Survey. The quantitative data were descriptively analyzed to identify nursing training needed for tasks related to dementia patient care. Administrating medications, providing early management information, educating patient families, maneuvering the environment, and influencing the emotional response of patients were areas of knowledge and skill deficit for nurse participants. Findings from the project will be used to guide education and training to improve nurse self-efficacy in working with dementia patients. When nurses in long-term care facilities enhance their skills and knowledge, they may be able to provide better care to dementia patients, therefore promoting social change.
32
Ionescu, Elena. "Sexual behavior in older adults diagnosed with dementia| Curriculum for caregivers in dementia communities." Thesis, California State University, Long Beach, 2014. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=1527008.
Full textAbstract:
Behavioral complications, such as Inappropriate Sexual Behavior (ISB), are developed in many cases of dementia. Sex, even for those with dementia, is a primary need, but supporting this need in an appropriate manner may overwhelm caregivers. The purpose of this project was to create a curriculum for Dementia Friendly Community (DFC) residential caregivers on the topic of sexual expression among older adults with dementia. By offering training on sexuality and dementia it is expected that caregivers can increase the DFC's provision of quality of life. This project presented an assessment tool and plan on how to manage ISB, activities relevant to the discussed topics, and curriculum evaluation forms. Expert reviewers offered recommendations to further improve the curriculum's quality.
33
Taing, Sonya. "Race and ethnicity influences| A predictor of nursing home patients admitted with dementia." Thesis, California State University, Long Beach, 2013. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=1524167.
Full textAbstract:
The United States population of elderly persons is growing quickly, causing an increase in concern for their health care needs. Dementia is a condition that affects the elderly. With an increase in persons with dementia, there is also an increase in apprehension of care choices. National data and published literature were used to study dementia and its effects on the patient and their family caretakers. The study concluded that minority families were less likely to institutionalize elderly dementia patients into nursing care due to a variety of cultural biases. White dementia patients had the highest number of admittance into nursing homes. This was also prevailing in the specialty care unit for dementia patients. Understanding the cultural differences and needs of the minority patient can help organizations improve the disparity among dementia patients admitted into nursing homes.
34
Fox, Emily M. "Creative Expressive Abilities in Nursing Home Residents with Dementia: Are Creative Activities Better?" Miami University / OhioLINK, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1366750974.
Full text
35
Clarke, Charlotte Laura. "Who needs problems? : Finding meaning in caregiving for people with dementia." Thesis, Northumbria University, 1995. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.364045.
Full text
36
Boone, Norma Jean. "Enhancing Nurses' Assessment of Pain Management in Dementia Patients." ScholarWorks, 2017. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/4423.
Full textAbstract:
Chronic pain contributes to morbidity, mortality, and disability in millions of people. Prevalence rates for pain are as high as 83% among the 5.2 million older adults living with a diagnosis of dementia. The purpose of the quality improvement project was to assess nurses' knowledge of pain assessment and management in a 45-bed Veterans Health Administration long-term care facility serving older adults with dementia. Knowles' adult learning theory served as the theoretical framework and the knowledge to action model supported the translation of evidence into practice. A convenience sample of 27 licensed and unlicensed nursing staff answered the 16-question, 5-point Likert scale survey, Self-Assessment of Knowledge in Assessing Pain in Dementia Patients and 7 demographic questions. Data analysis was conducted using a one way ANOVA. Knowledge of best practices for pain assessment and management varied significantly by job title; RNs had the highest knowledge mean score (M = .74), followed by LPNs (M = .54), and then by CNAs (M = .40; p < .001). Similarly, nurses with an associate degree or higher had better knowledge (M = .74) than nurses without an associate degree (M = .42; p < .001). Knowledge was unrelated to years of employment in long-term care. However, 85% of the nurses believed pain was assessed and managed correctly in the facility. These data suggested that nurses' assessment and management of pain may be disconnected to their self-assessment knowledge scores. Positive social change may be realized as the project findings are used to develop education for the nursing staff related to the knowledge deficits identified by the survey and application of an evidence-based tool to assess pain in cognitively-impaired older residents.
37
Leung, Man-fung, and 梁雯鳳. "The use of psycho-education program for caregivers of patients with dementia." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2010. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B44625546.
Full text
38
Andersson, Emma, and Melina Nylén. "Anhörigas upplevelser av att vårda en närstående med demenssjukdom : En litteraturstudie." Thesis, Uppsala universitet, Institutionen för folkhälso- och vårdvetenskap, 2019. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-382272.
Full textAbstract:
Background:As the life expectancy of the population increases, more people are diagnosed with dementia. The diagnosis causes a lack of self-care for the affected person, which can result in a relative taking up the role of caregiver. Thus, the quality of life of the relatives may deteriorate when their own needs are disregarded. Relatives support is important in everyday life. Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate family caregivers experiences of caring for a relative with dementia. Method:A literature review based on 13 qualitative articles, selected on the basis of inclusion criteria. Results: After compiling 13 scientific articles, four themes emerged; the life situation gets a turnaround, the disease changed everyday life, the caregiver's experience of health and the importance of knowledge and support for a good care.The caregiver experienced the changed life situation demanding. New roles as well as changing family relationships caused difficulties in life. The dementia disease caused personality changes that forced the relative to adapt the everyday life to the relative. The physical and mental health of the caregiver was adversely affected by the situation. Relatives felt that feelings of anxiety dominated over the loved one and in the thoughts of the future. Lack of information and knowledge caused difficulties in the care of the dementia patient. The importance of support in everyday life emerged. Conclusion: The life situation changes and life forces adaptation after dementia. Formal support is significant in everyday life. Relatives experience psychological and physical illness. Lack of knowledge and information can be an important cause of perceived bad health, access to support should be facilitated.Bakgrund: I takt med att befolkningens livslängd ökar, diagnostiseras fler individer med demenssjukdom. Diagnosen medför bristande självomsorg för den drabbade vilket kan resultera i att en anhörig intar rollen som anhörigvårdare. Vardagen förändras drastiskt och tid spenderas till att hjälpa den närstående. Därmed kan anhörigas livskvalité komma att försämras när de egna behoven åsidosätts. Anhörigstöd är av stor betydelse i vardagen. Syfte: Syftet med studien var att undersöka anhörigas upplevelser av att vårda en närstående med demenssjukdom. Metod: En litteraturstudie baserad på kvalitativa vetenskapliga artiklar. Resultat: Efter sammanställning av 13 vetenskapliga artiklar framkom fyra teman; livssituationen får en vändning, sjukdomen förändrade vardagen, anhörigas upplevelse av hälsan och vikten av kunskap och stöd för en god omvårdnad. Anhöriga upplevde den förändrade livssituationen krävande. Nya roller samt förändrade familjerelationer orsakade svårigheter i livet. Demenssjukdomen orsakade personlighetsförändringar som tvingade den anhöriga att anpassa vardagen efter den närstående. Anhörigas fysiska och psykiska hälsotillstånd påverkades negativt av situationen. Anhöriga upplevde oroskänslor över den närstående samt tankar om framtiden. Brist på information och kunskap orsakade svårigheter i omvårdnaden av den närstående. Vikten av stöd i vardagen framkom. Slutsats: Livssituationen förändras och livet tvingas anpassas efter demenssjukdomen. Formellt stöd är betydande i vardagen. Anhöriga upplever psykisk såväl fysisk ohälsa. Bristande kunskap och information kan vara en betydande orsak till upplevd ohälsa, tillgången till stöd bör underlättas.
39
Smith, Stephen D. M. "An action research study of palliative care for people with a dementia and their carers." Thesis, Queen Margaret University, 2009. https://eresearch.qmu.ac.uk/handle/20.500.12289/7393.
Full textAbstract:
The objectives of this participatory action research were to: identify the palliative care needs of PWAD and their carers in West Lothian; analyse two dementia care services as they develop practice in the assessment and management of distress for PWAD, and supporting carers; determine implications for practice development and service delivery. Multiple data collection methods were used including; focus groups, interviews, participant observation, reflective accounts, case studies, documentation review, action learning and notes recorded from meetings with staff. The first phase was a dementia palliative care needs assessment. Eight PWAD, 25 carers and 63 service providers participated in interviews and focus groups. Overall findings were that a palliative care approach provided a useful and appropriate framework to understand the needs of PWAD. Recognition of and support for family carers should take a high priority when considering a model for dementia palliative care. More specific needs were identified, these included: the need to develop person centred approaches; enhance the management of pain and distress and enhance individual support for carers. Two services participated in the action phase; a day centre and a hospital ward. Eleven people with a dementia, 28 carers and 86 service providers participated. Services focused on carer support or assessing pain / distress. Carer support findings: implementing an assessment tool enhanced staffs understanding of carers needs; carers preferred flexible and individual support interventions; family carers experienced cumulative factors that restricted access to support. Assessment of distress findings: assessing distress from the behaviour of PWAD was complex. The implementation of the Disability Distress Assessment Tool (DisDAT) identified new evidence that it provided a person centred assessment suitable for PWAD. It was identified that the theoretical concept of relationship centred care, could provide a way of working, that complemented the adoption of a palliative care approach for PWAD, whilst enhancing carer support and assessment of distress practices.
40
Henton, Rachael. "An exploration of the "feeding partnership" between patients with late stage dementia and nursing staff." Thesis, City University London, 2003. http://openaccess.city.ac.uk/12046/.
Full textAbstract:
This study explores the nature of feeding partnerships between patients with late stage dementia and nursing staff. Twelve video dyads, consisting of four female patients and three members of their nursing team, were recorded during feeding. All twelve videos were made during the midday meal, within the normal nursing environment of the continuing care ward of a psychogeriatric unit. The videos were transcribed using an adapted conversation analysis technique. A number of small scale studies were carried out on the data. A correlation was found between the amount and type of speech used by the members of staff and the amount of food successfully fed to the patients. Demarcation of feeding was lost when there were high levels of speech, suggesting that staff members' communication should be task related so as to enable feeding cues to be detected. The findings were interpreted against a summary model which was then reconfigured into three stages. The roles of the members of nursing staff and the speech and language therapist were conceptualised and three key components of intervention during feeding portrayed. The model emphasises the staff-patient partnership and the direct and indirect influence the speech and language therapist exerts on this. Suggestions are made for further exploration and future research including communication and feeding profiles, analysis of different demarcation processes and the development of a demarcation hierarchy. Such an intervention would relate equally to other clinical areas such as neurology and learning disabilities. A number of factors were identified which challenge current speech and language therapy practice, including the link between interaction and successful feeding. It is advocated that dysphagia and communication therapies should be placed on opposing ends of a continuum rather than being viewed as separate constituents to speech and language therapy intervention. By proposing such a continuum it is possible to see how therapy can be targeted at the specific, task related interaction that is necessary for successful feeding.
41
Morey, Oma. "Loving care for a person with dementia : from phenomenological findings to lifeworld theatre." Thesis, Bournemouth University, 2010. http://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/15993/.
Full textAbstract:
Compassion and empathy are essential characteristics of healthcare providers, yet the public sees provider compassion as lacking. Physician empathy also decreases during medical training. While the traditional scientific model of objective principles predominates the medical field, more recent moves in research-informed theatre have allowed qualitative researcher/educators to use drama to make their research more significant and relevant to healthcare settings. Theatre can significantly contribute to medical education by allowing students to reflect on their own emotions and the use of an imaginative perspective to develop insight into how best to convey compassion and empathy to patients. This study explored the emotional impact of a phenomenology-based play on medical students, healthcare professionals, and the public including carers of people with dementia with a specific focus on empathy and understanding of the patient/caregiver/ physician triad. Three phases were involved in the completion of this project: 1) a phenomenological study was completed with 10 people caring for a person with dementia; 2) these findings and basic theatrical principles were used to develop a theatrical playscript about the experiences of family carers of persons with dementia; 3) the playscript was produced before an audience of healthcare professionals including physicians and medical students, informal carers and community members. The emotional impact of the play was evaluated through a reflective writing exercise. Ofthe 400 people attending the play, 255 completed the evaluation. Evaluation data was analyzed using a content analysis methodology. There was strong evidence that lifeworld phenomenology-based theatre was a stimulus for empathic understanding. Four types of empathy were identified: 1) cognitive empathyunderstanding another's thoughts/feelings; 2) affective empathy-feeling another's emotion; 3) shared empathy-finding commonalities in previous experiences/feelings; and 4) projected/imagined shared empathy-imagining having same experience/feelings in the future. Medical students spend little time understanding and processing their own emotions around patient care. Lifeworld phenomenology-based theatre is a safe and effective tool to enhance empathy and help students understand patient emotions as well as their own.
42
Balic, Aida, and Laine Andersson. "Beröring som omvårdnadsintervention vid demensrelaterad agitation : Touch as a nursing intervention in dementia related agitation." Thesis, Karlstad University, Faculty of Social and Life Sciences, 2009. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:kau:diva-5463.
Full textAbstract:
I Sverige lever idag ungefär 150 000 personer med en demenssjukdom och det är vanligt att personen uppvisar ett agiterat beteende. Antalet som drabbas av en demenssjukdom ökar i takt med att människan lever längre. Syftet med litteraturstudien var att belysa beröring som omvårdnadsintervention vid demensrelaterad agitation. Studien genomfördes utifrån Polit och Beck’s (2008) riktlinjer för litteraturstudier och bygger på elva granskade artiklar. Via databaserna Cinahl, PubMed, PsykInfo samt AMED har data insamlats. Litteraturstudiens resultat visar på en minskning av agitationsbeteende hos studiedeltagarna, under tiden när massage ges, under interventionsperioden samt i ett fåtal fall även en tid efter att interventionen är avslutad. Beröring har även visats ge en motsatt effekt hos personerna, där agitationen istället ökade. Resultaten redovisas under två huvudkategorier: Betydelsen av beröring under intervention och Betydelsen av beröring efter avslutad intervention. Vidare redovisas resultat i underkategorierna Handmassage och Taktil massage.
43
Andersson, Liza, and Lovisa Axelsson. "Att vara närstående till en äldre person med demenssjukdom : En litteraturstudie med kvalitativ ansats." Thesis, Högskolan Väst, Avdelningen för omvårdnad - grundnivå, 2016. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hv:diva-10624.
Full textAbstract:
Nu för tiden blir människan äldre och med det så ökar risken för att insjukna i demens. Det är en obotlig sjukdom som innefattar en grav försämring av personens minne och intellekt och som slutligen leder till döden. Sjukdomen påverkar inte bara den drabbade utan även alla i dennes omgivning. Symtomen kommer smygande, vanligt är försämrat minne, intellekt och förändrad personlighet. Många av de drabbade är nedstämda, oroliga och kan även vara aggressiva. Detta beror på att de fortfarande har kvar sina känslor och kan känna att något är fel, men de kan inte sätta fingret på vad som är fel. Vid sjukdom så är behovet av stöd oftast stort och det är sjuksköterskans ansvar att ge stöd till den som behöver. För att kunna bemöta de behov som finns behövs kunskap om hur närstående upplever sin situation. Begränsad forskning finns kring närståendes erfarenheter av demenssjukdomen, och majoriteten av forskningen är inriktad på sjukdomen och hur den påverkar hjärnan och patienten. Därför valdes en litteraturbaserad studie till examensarbetet för att belysa erfarenheter av att vara närstående till en äldre person med demenssjukdom. Detta innebär att författarna granskat 10 artiklar från vetenskapliga tidskrifter och sammanställt till ett eget resultat. Temana som bildades efter granskningen var närståendes erfarenheter av stöd och sjukdomens progression och dess effekter på relation och känslor. Det första temat fokuserar just på de närståendes erfarenheter av stöd. Både från vården och andra i samma situation. Resultatet visar att stödet från sjuksköterskan bör vara lättillgängligt och ges i tidigt skede av sjukdomen för att undvika ohälsa. Även att prata med andra i samma situationer var viktigt, många tog hjälp av stödgrupper för att få råd. Andra ville inte ha stöd från sina familjer då de inte ville lägga bördan på dem så de tog själva allt ansvar för den drabbade. Sjukdomens progression och dess effekter på relation och känslor belyser de olika problem som uppkommer under sjukdomens gång. Det förändrade beteendet hos den drabbade skapade irritation och frustration hos de närstående, till exempel när den drabbade tappade tråden i samtal eller uppträdde förvirrat. I samband med det förändrade beteendet formades en ny relation till den drabbade. Känslor av skuld och skam var närvarande för många och specifikt för makar var sorgen av att ha mist den man en gång delat livet med.Background: Dementia not only affects the individual patient, but also healthcare professionals and the relatives. It is an increasing incurable disease that affects the mind of the afflicted person. He or she will experience difficulties with either expressing oneself, recognizing daily things, performing tasks that he or she previously were able to managed or the ability to plan, initiate or complete various tasks. Aim: The aim of this study was to illuminate experiences of being a relative of an older person afflicted of dementia. Method: A literature based study was performed, analyzing 10 qualitative articles. Results: The results consist of two main themes, relatives experiences of support, with two subthemes, support in the care relationship and support from others in the same situation. The second theme progression of the disease and its affects on relations and feelings, with three subthemes, the partners behavioral change, a new kind of relationship and impact of the disease on feelings. These highlight significant experiences the relatives go through in relation to the disease. Support was something that may be given in different ways and the need for support was necessary. The behavioral change that comes with the disease, results in a new form of relationship with the affected. Feelings of sadness, guilt and shame were constantly present. Conclusion: The results shows that the relatives need support through the entire disease progression when the behavior of the affected changes and a new relationship is formed. When accepting the disease, the relatives found it easier to deal with life in general. Nurses need to have the means to respond to these relatives and to know how they experience their situation, to be able to support them in the best possible way.
44
Kelly, Jo Anna M. "Bereavement Responses of Caregivers of Institutionalized vs Community-Living Alzheimer’s Patients." Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies / OhioLINK, 2007. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1169842336.
Full text
45
Bossen, Ann L. Gibbs. "The naturally restorative environment as a nonpharmacological intervention for dementia." Diss., University of Iowa, 2013. https://ir.uiowa.edu/etd/5422.
Full textAbstract:
Alzheimer's disease is a form of dementia associated with disturbing and disruptive behaviors that account for many negative health and well-being outcomes, including declines in functional status, social engagement, and physical activity (Lyketsos, 2007). These behavioral consequences diminish patients' quality of life (QoL) and increase caregiver burden and the cost of care, often ultimately necessitating that patients be placed in a nursing home (Murman and Colenda, 2005).
Nature can profoundly affect people's health, well-being, and QoL; indeed, it is an old concept that the healing properties of nature can be used therapeutically. Accordingly, naturally restorative environmental (NRE) interventions stimulate one or more of the senses using natural things: elements of the earth that are living and animate, geographic, or solar and climatic (Gibson, Chalfont, Clarke, Torrington, and Sixsmith, 2007). For persons with dementia, interventions that incorporate NRE elements have demonstrated a variety of benefits, including decreased agitation; less use of psychotropic drugs); normalization of the circadian rhythm; and enhanced sociability, affect, cognitive capacity, and attention (Detweiler, Murphy, Kim, Meyers, and Ashai, 2009; Colenda, Cohen, McCall, and Rosenquist, 1997; LeGrace, 2002). Self-reported improvements in well-being, quality of life, and participation in meaningful activities have also been documented (Collins and O'Callaghan, 2008; Duggan, Blackman, Martyr, and Van Schaik, 2008; Nowak and Davis, 2011). Thus, NREs provide caregivers potential options for addressing physical, spiritual, psychological, and social needs, while at the same time, affecting behavioral responses. These widespread benefits justify further investigation and clarification.
Despite the rich potential of NRE interventions for treating dementia, the research to support NRE use has not been synthesized and defined in terms of specific behaviors that may be affected, their dosage, the optimal NRE settings, and other specific characteristics. Further research is needed to develop the most effective interventions. The purpose of this dissertation is to produce a comprehensive meta-analysis of the studies, both published and unpublished, that detail the use of NRE in interventions for behaviors and QoL in dementia care. A meta-regression was conducted of moderator variables to guide development of NRE interventions for dementia care. Additionally, the characteristics of different types of programs were synthesized. Data from thirty three articles were pooled for effect size (ES) estimates on two outcomes: disruptive behaviors and quality of life. In two-group comparisons, treatment and control, an ES = 0.484 + .138, k= 17, CI (0.215, 0.745) favored the interpretation that disruptive behaviors were attenuated with NRE interventions. Findings were higher in single, pre- post-test design studies, with an ES= 0.758+ 0.109. k= 7, CI (0.544, 0.973) for diminishing disruptive behaviors. In the two-group comparisons assessing the quality of life outcome, the ES= 0.579 + 0.171, k= 10, CI (0.243, 0.915); for single group designs, the ES= 1.347+ 0.256, k=7, CI (0.020, 0.719). Thus both design analyses indicated improved measures of QoL for persons with dementia. Moderator analysis by type of NRE, two-group design, showed statistically significant lessening in disruptive behaviors using aromatherapy, but not bright light or horticulture therapy. Better QoL was shown independently by the moderators, aromatherapy and horticulture therapy, but not bright light therapy. When single group analysis was done for each type of NRE, they all independently showed significance for both behaviors and QoL; except there were no single group designs in AT or BLT. Despite the considerable heterogeneity of the interventions, individual moderators all showed potential benefits, in a variety of settings, and in different contexts.
46
Möller, Thern Emma, and Mehbuba Tabassum. "Vårddjur : och deras inverkan på personer med demenssjukdom." Thesis, Uppsala universitet, Institutionen för folkhälso- och vårdvetenskap, 2020. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-411485.
Full textAbstract:
Bakgrund: I takt med ökad ålder och längre levnadstid i dagens samhälle blir demenssjukdomar en allt vanligare folksjukdom. I Sverige finns det uppskattningsvis 150 000 människor med en demenssjukdom och varje år diagnostiseras ungefär 20 000–25 000. En demenssjukdom påverkar människans sociala, fysiska, psykiska och ekonomiska förmågor samt deras anhöriga. Användandet av vårddjur blir allt vanligare och kan användas på olika sätt med olika mål i omvårdnadsarbetet. De olika användningsmetoderna med vårddjur är Animal-Assisted Activity och Animal-Assisted Therapy. Syfte: Att beskriva inverkan av djur som omvårdnadsåtgärd för personer med demenssjukdom. Metod: Deskriptiv allmän litteraturöversikt innehållande tio originalartiklar, med en kvantitativ ansats. Databaserna Pubmed och CINAHL användes vid datainsamlingen. Katie Erikssons omvårdnadsteori om människans och vårdandes grund utgjorde litteraturöversiktens teoretiska referensram. Resultat: Fyra kategorier identifierades. Dessa var; vårddjurs inverkan på fysisk aktivitet, ökad livskvalité av vårddjur, förbättrad psykisk hälsa och minskad BPSD symtom samt vårddjurs inverkan på sociala interaktioner. Det framkom i resultatet att vårddjur som en del av omvårdnadsarbetet, eller genom enbart sin närvaro, hade en positiv inverkan på personer med demenssjukdom. Slutsats: Vårddjur har en positiv inverkan på personer med demenssjukdom genom att öka fysisk aktivitet, livskvalitén, minskade psykisk ohälsa samt BPSD symtom och ökade kommunikationen. Dock behövs fortfarande större och mer omfattande studier inom området, då många av studierna innefattade små undersökningsgrupper och pågick under en kortare tidsperiod.Background: As age increases and longer life expectancy in today’s society, dementia is becoming a common disease. In Sweden, there an estimated 150.000 people with dementia, and about 20.000- 25.000 are diagnosed each year. When a person is diagnosed with dementia it affects their social, physical, mental and economic abilities as well as their relatives. The use of animals as a nursing act is becoming more common and can be used in different ways with different goals in the nursing work. The various methods of using animals in the nursing field are as animal-assisted activity and animal-assisted therapy. Aim: To describe the impact of animals as a nursing act for people with dementia. Method: Descriptive general literature review containing ten original articles, with quantitative approach. The PubMed and CHINAL databases were used in the data collection. Katie Eriksson’s nursing theory on the basis of human and nursing care made up the theoretical reference frame of this study. Result: Four categories were identified. These were; animals’ impact on physical activity, increased quality of life from animals, improved mental health and reduced BPSD symptoms and the impact from animals on social interactions. It was found in the results that animals as part of the nursing work, or simply by their presence, had an impact on people with dementia. Conclusion: Animals has a positive impact on people with dementia by increasing physical activity, quality of life, decreased mental illness and BPSD symptoms and increased communication. However, larger and more extensive studies in the field are still needed, as to many of the studies included small research groups and lasted for a short period of time.
47
Merritt, Rebecca. "The Decision Making Process of Informal Caregivers of Dementia Family Members Regarding Nursing Home Placement." VCU Scholars Compass, 2010. http://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/2334.
Full textAbstract:
The purpose of this study was to understand the decision making process of caregivers placing their elderly family members in a nursing home facility. Experiential Learning Theory (ELT) was used, as well as the Critical Incident Technique (CIT). ELT was utilized in an effort to understand the learning that took place during the caregiving experiences, and CIT was used to better understand the critical incidents that led the caregivers to seek nursing home placement. A sample of twelve former informal dementia caregivers between the ages of fifty-seven and eighty-seven was drawn from the metropolitan Richmond, Virginia area. In-depth interviews were audiotaped and provided the primary source of data for this study. An interview protocol consisting of eleven open-ended questions derived from current dementia caregiving literature guided the conversation between the researcher and the caregivers in the sample. A constant comparison method was used in this study. The findings revealed that there are a variety of reasons why informal dementia caregivers seek nursing home placement for their family members. Themes related to the decision making process to seek nursing home placement include (1) dementia related behaviors, (2) safety concerns, (3) emotional and psychological burden, and (4) unexpected medical intervention. Indicators of each theme found in this study suggest that providing informal care for an individual with dementia can be very overwhelming and challenging. Although there were some positive aspects associated with this form of caregiving, such as feelings of pride and self-worth, the overall consensus from this study was that dementia caregiving is a very difficult experience in which the primary caregiver had to ultimately seek formal placement in a nursing home for their family member for a variety of reasons.
48
Fazzolari-Pleace, Kristin E. "The Impact of Depakote on Agitation and Short-Term Memory in Nursing Home Dementia Residents." ScholarWorks, 2018. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/4785.
Full textAbstract:
Researchers have linked dementia to common psychiatric symptoms such as agitation and aggression, known as behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). To treat residents manifesting BPSD, nursing homes (NHs) use psychoactive medications. However, research is limited and inconsistent regarding the impact of Depakote treatment on agitation and short-term memory (STM) in NH residents who have dementia. The purpose of this nonexperimental quantitative study was to evaluate for 1 year the impact of Depakote treatment on agitation and STM in NH residents as measured by each resident's Minimum Data Set (MDS). Moncrieff and Cohen's drug-centered theory served as the theoretical foundation for the study. Archival data from the consulting pharmacist and NH MDS included 16 NH dementia residents. Data were analyzed using a repeated-measures within-subject ANOVA. Results indicated no significant impact of Depakote treatment on agitation and STM scores over a 1-year period. Results may be used to assess the impact and efficacy of a common yet largely unexamined invasive treatment on an underserved, vulnerable population.
49
Roomkham, Sirinthip. "Design a simulated multimedia enriched immersive learning environment (SMILE) for nursing care of dementia patient." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 2016. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/94175/1/Sirinthip_Roomkham_Thesis.pdf.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis is to establish a framework to guide the development of a simulated, multimedia-enriched, immersive, learning environment (SMILE) framework. This framework models essential media components used to describe a scenario applied in healthcare (in a dementia context), demonstrates interactions between the components, and enables scalability of simulation implementation. The thesis outcomes also include a simulation system developed in accordance with the guidance framework and a preliminary evaluation through a user study involving ten nursing students and practicioners. The results show that the proposed framework is feasible and effective for designing a simulation system in dementia healthcare training.
50
Johnston, Ian F. "Disruptive behaviour in nursing home residents: A study of some predisposing factors." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 1999. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1212.
Full textAbstract:
Behaviour disorders are common among nursing home residents and the management of these problems is difficult and emotionally taxing for caregivers. Although widespread acknowledgment of the problem exists amongst those caring for the elderly, there has, until recently, been little formal investigation of these disorders in any systematic degree. This study investigated 63 nursing home residents (22 males and 41 females) in two primary diagnostic categories; those with vascular dementia and those with dementia due to other causes, primarily Alzheimer's disease. A review of the literature suggested that the nature and frequency of disruptive behaviour differed across these two prevalent forms of dementia. The level of cognitive impairment for each resident was assessed using the Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE). A two-week record of individual behaviours was recorded by nursing staff on a 24-hour shift basis, using the Cohen -Mansfield Agitation Index (CMAI). The results are generally consistent with earlier research demonstrating a negative correlation between cognitive impairment and aggression. However, no significant difference in behaviour was demonstrated between the two groups. Finally, a number of mediating variables is discussed in terms of their influence on the results.