The effect of individualized special instruction on the behaviors of nursing home residents diagnosed with dementia

This pilot study was designed to investigate the effect of an educational intervention-Individualized Special Instruction (ISI)-on 30 nursing home residents diagnosed with dementia. Ratings indicated that 18 of the residents had severe dementia and 12 residents had moderate dementia. This pilot project employed a multiple treatment, an equivalent control group design which was carried out in three phases over a three-month period. Residents who did not receive IS1 intervention showed deterioration on the aberrant behavior variables with significant increase in irritability and total scores, while residents who did receive ISI intervention did not show any significant deterioration, became more vocal, showed an increased response to touch, and spent more time on task.