Disruptive Behaviors of Older Adults in an Institutional Setting

This study, as part of a larger project, examined the actual time recorded by nursing staff to manage 36 disruptive behaviors in older adults who are institutionalized. Disruptive behaviors were defined as socially unacceptable or isolating, observable actions with negative consequences. A prospective study was conducted using a sample of 153 patients in a Veterans Affairs institution (mean age = 72.6, SD = 10.8). Data related to time to manage disruptive behaviors were collected during 21 consecutive shifts for each patient. Nursing staff did not always intervene in all disruptive behaviors that occurred. When they did intervene, total time to manage a disruptive behavior ranged from 5.7 to 201.5 minutes (mean = 23.1 minutes, SD = 31.9).