A survey of the frequency and impact of Behaviours of Concern in dementia on residential aged care staff

Objectives: To investigate staff perceptions of the frequency of Behaviours of Concern (BoC) exhibited by residents with dementia; to rank order the BoC causing most disruption to the everyday running of facilities, and the most personal distress to staff. Methods: A cross‐sectional survey was conducted in 2005, across staff in 15 residential aged care facilities in Tasmania, using a self‐administered questionnaire. Results: Over 80% of staff reported residents’ repetitive actions, wandering and verbal disruption as occurring more than once a day BoC. The three highest ranked BoC reported as being the most disruptive to the running of the unit were verbal disruption, wandering and repetitive actions. Residents’ physical aggression, verbal disruptions and wandering were ranked 1, 2 and 3, respectively, as causing staff the most personal distress. Conclusions: Although occurring infrequently physical aggression is the BoC perceived by staff to cause them the greatest amount of personal distress.