NATURE AND CONTEXT OF BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS AMONG COGNITIVELY IMPAIRED, ELDERLY NURSING HOME RESIDENTS (ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE, DEMENTIA).
Contributors: University Of Illinois At Chicago, Health Sciences Center.
Published: 1996
Number of pages: 203
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Gerontology.
Description: A qualitative, observational approach was used in this study to examine the problematic behaviors exhibited by cognitively impaired, elderly nursing home residents, the antecedents and consequences of these behaviors, and the approaches used by staff members in working with such individuals. Subjects were 14 residents of a dementia special care unit in a suburban nursing home. Observations were conducted over a nine-month period. Each subject was observed across a variety of time periods and types of activities.

In all, sixty-two different behaviors were observed across the 14 subjects. Twenty-two of these behaviors were normative (i.e., positive), 34 were problematic, and six were either problematic or normative depending on the situation in which they occurred. Some commonalties of problematic behaviors were noted across subjects; however, individual subjects exhibited patterns of behavior problems that were unique, consistent over time, and largely predictable.

Observable antecedents of individual behavior problems were identified in 78.7% of cases; observable consequences were noted in 64.3% of cases. Unexpected or unwelcome touch by other residents or staff members and invasion of subjects' personal space were the most common antecedents noted. The most frequently occurring consequence of behavior problems was physical and/or verbal action on the part of staff members or other residents.

Approaches employed by staff members in working with cognitively impaired individuals were numerous and varied depending on the focus of the interaction. Task-focused staff member-resident interactions were noted most frequently in this study. Approaches used by staff members during such interactions included: procedural touching, directing, explaining and calling the resident by name.

The findings of this study highlight the complex nature of behavior problems among cognitively impaired, elderly nursing home residents. Multiple human and environmental factors served not only to trigger these behaviors, but to sustain them over time. Such behaviors unfolded within a web of relationships that included staff members, other residents, family members, and visitors--all of whom interacted with the individual who was cognitively impaired and reacted to the various behaviors that the individual exhibited.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 57-11, Section: B, page: 6854.

Thesis (PH.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO, HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER, 1996.

School code: 0806.