Approximately 60 percent of long term care residents suffer with some degree of dementia. Direct care for these residents is usually provided by nursing aides. This group has high turnover and may not be trained in providing palliative care. Souder, Elaine, et al. Identifying Patterns of Disruptive Behavior in Long-Term Care Residents.
Disruptive behavior can be a problem for both long term care residents and staff.
Consequences of disruptive behavior include increased staff and resident stress, increased use of chemical and physical restraints, staff turnover and burn-out, increased injury, and social isolation. In a 24-hour study period, there were an average of 3.6 DB per individual. The authors discuss their findings which show patterns of behavior and suggest that with identification of DB, interventions can be designed to lessen the behavior.