Approaches to Problem Behaviors in Dementia

Behaviors associated with dementia present serious management problems for nursing home staff and families of people with dementia. Sensory loss oft& compounds problems associated with dementia. This paper compares interventions focused on interaction and environment to those based on the medical model. Creating a closed unit for dementia patients is shown to be an effective way to provide care to people whose behavior is disruptive in other settings. In this study, use of an amplification device appeared to increase responsiveness and reduce the yelling behavior of an elderly woman with dementia and hearing loss.