Agitation and Dementia: Tips to Calm Residents

I read some helpful ideas on working with residents with dementia in the most recent Psychologists in Long-Term Care newsletter (Vol. 25, Issue 2-3).  Psychologist Nancy Hoffman, PsyD, discusses research findings and her interview with Lucy Andrews, RN, MS, owner of At Your Service Homecare in Santa Rosa, California.  The main points to consider:

• Agitation often reflects underlying physical needs such as thirst, hunger, or pain, or an undiagnosed infection such as a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
• Many LTC residents suffer from sensory deprivation, boredom, and loneliness
• Behavior interventions aim to treat to underlying needs that are causing inappropriate behavior
• We should provide positive attention when residents are calm so they don’t need to become agitated in order to gain attention
• It works better to distract agitated residents rather than to reason with them
• Soothing music, toys, gentle touch, or favorite personal items can be helpful coping tools for residents with dementia
• Asking closed questions is more effective than open-ended questions that can leave the resident struggling for an answer
• Reminiscence therapy focused on pleasant and meaningful experiences can address underlying emotional needs, as can therapeutic activities such as art, exercise, and music