Can agitated behavior of nursing home residents with dementia be prevented with the use of standardized stimuli?

Capturing Interactive Occupation and Social Engagement in a Residential Dementia and Mental Health Setting Using Quantitative and Narrative Data

Objectives: Despite an abundance of research acknowledging the value of interactive occupation and social engagement for older people, and the limits to these imposed by many residential settings, there is a lack of research which measures and analyzes these concepts. This research provides a method for measuring, analysing and monitoring interactive occupation and social engagement levels of residents in a secure residential setting for older people with mental health problems and dementia. It proposes suggestions for changes to improve the well-being of residents in residential settings. Method: In this case study design, the Assessment Tool for Occupational and Social Engagement (ATOSE) provided a ‘whole room’ time sampling technique to observe resident and staff interactive occupation and social engagement within the communal sitting room over a five-week period. Researchers made contemporaneous notes to supplement the ATOSE data and to contextualise the observations. Results: Residents in the sitting room were passive, sedentary, and unengaged for 82.73% of their time. Staff, who were busy and active 98.84% of their time in the sitting room, spent 43.39% of this time in activities which did not directly engage the residents. The physical, social and occupational environments did not support interactive occupation or social engagement. Conclusions: The ATOSE assessment tool, in combination with narrative data, provides a clear measurement and analysis of interactive occupation and social engagement in this and other residential settings. Suggestions for change include a focus on the physical, social, occupational, and sensory environments and the culture of care throughout the organization.

The Namaste Care programme can reduce behavioural symptoms in care home residents with advanced dementia

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of the Namaste Care programme on the behavioural symptoms of residents with advanced dementia in care homes and their pain management.

METHODS

Six dementia care homes collaborated in an action research study-one withdrew. Inclusion criteria were a dementia diagnosis and a Bedford Alzheimer's Nursing Severity Scale score of >16. Primary research measures were the Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Nursing Homes (NPI-NH) and Doloplus-2 behavioural pain assessment scale for the elderly. Measures were recorded at baseline and at three 1-2 monthly intervals after Namaste Care started.

RESULTS

Management disruption occurred across all care homes. The severity of behavioural symptoms, pain and occupational disruptiveness (NPI-NH) decreased in four care homes. Increased severity of behavioural symptoms in one care home was probably related to poor pain management, reflected in increased pain scores, and disrupted leadership. Comparison of NPI-NH scores showed that severity of behavioural symptoms and occupational disruptiveness were significantly lower after initiation of Namaste Care (n = 34, p < 0.001) and after the second interval (n = 32, p < 0.001 and p = 0.003). However, comparison of these measures in the second and third intervals revealed that both were slightly increased in the third interval (n = 24, p < 0.001 and p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Where there are strong leadership, adequate staffing, and good nursing and medical care, the Namaste Care programme can improve quality of life for people with advanced dementia in care homes by decreasing behavioural symptoms. Namaste is not a substitute for good clinical care.

A systematic review of strategies to foster activity engagement in persons with dementia

Dementia is a growing public health issue. Activity, a positive therapeutic modality, has potential to enhance quality of life and reduce behavioral symptoms in persons with dementia--outcomes eluding pharmacological treatments. However, it is unclear how to effectively engage persons with dementia in activities for them to derive desired benefits. We present a systematic review of 28 studies involving 50 tests of different ways of modifying activities to enhance engagement and reduce behavioral and psychological symptoms for this group. Of 50 tests, 22 (44%) evaluated changes to objects and properties (e.g., introducing activities with intrinsic interest), 6 (12%) evaluated changes to space demands (e.g., lighting, noise levels), 8 (16%) evaluated changes to social demands (e.g., prompts, praise), and 14 (28%) combined two or more activity modifications. No modifications were made to the sequence and timing of activities. Although modifications to objects and properties were the most common, outcomes for engagement and behaviors were mixed. Modifications to space and social demands were less frequently tested, but consistently yielded positive outcomes. No modifications resulted in negative behavioral outcomes or decreased engagement. Methodological strengths of studies included direct observation of outcomes and fidelity assessments. Few studies however involved persons with dementia at home. Our review revealed a growing evidentiary base for different modifications to foster engagement in activities and reduce behavioral and psychological symptoms. Future studies should evaluate how contextual factors (e.g., physical environment, activity type) and caregiver ability to employ activity modifications affect engagement.

The use and utility of specific nonpharmacological interventions for behavioral symptoms in dementia: an exploratory study

OBJECTIVE

This study compares different nonpharmacological interventions for persons with behavioral symptoms and dementia on frequency of use and perceived efficacy in terms of change in behavior and interest.

METHODS

Participants were 89 nursing home residents from six Maryland nursing homes with a mean age of 85.9 years (SD: 8.6 years). Research assistants presented interventions tailored to the participants' needs and preferences in a pre-intervention trial phase and in an intervention phase. The impact of each intervention on behavioral symptoms and on the person's interest was rated immediately after the intervention by a research assistant.

RESULTS

The most utilized interventions in both trial and treatment phases were the social intervention of one-on-one interaction, simulated social interventions such as a lifelike doll and respite video, the theme intervention of magazine, and the sensory stimulation intervention of music. In contrast, the least utilized interventions in both phases were sewing, fabric book, and flower arrangement. Interventions with the highest impact on behavioral symptoms included one-on-one social interaction, hand massage, music, video, care, and folding towels. Other high impact interventions included walking, going outside, flower arranging, food or drink, sewing, group activity, book presentation, ball toss, coloring or painting, walking, and family video.

CONCLUSIONS

The results provide initial directions for choosing specific interventions for persons with dementia and also demonstrate a methodology for increasing knowledge through ongoing monitoring of practice.

French lay people's and health professionals' views regarding the acceptability of involuntary treatment of nursing home residents

OBJECTIVES

We examined the views of lay people and health professionals in France about involuntary treatment of residents in nursing homes.

METHOD

Participants (101 lay people, 20 nurses, 20 psychologists, and 10 physicians) were presented with a series of stories created by varying the levels of five factors: type of behavioral problem encountered (e.g., night-wandering), associated signs of dementia, physician's effort to explain the reason for treatment, resident's attitude (e.g., lasting reluctance), and physician's decision to prescribe psychotropic drugs or not. Participants were asked to judge the acceptability of the decision in each concrete case.

RESULTS

Three qualitatively different positions were found. The largest group (40% of the participants) viewed treatment of residents' behavioral problems as the most important objective. They felt it also important to respect residents' wishes and, therefore, to spend much time in talking with them about treatment. An almost equally large group (39%)--which included 60% of physicians--viewed respect for residents' autonomy as the most important consideration. A smaller group (21%)--including 40% of the psychologists--focused on the importance of taking time to talk with the residents. They also thought that treating patients against their will was unacceptable. Thus they took autonomy one step further than the preceding group.

CONCLUSION

It is important to reduce as much as possible the conflict between the principles of patient autonomy and perceived beneficence when caring for nursing home patients with behavior problems. This can be done by promoting their decision making abilities.

Non-pharmacological interventions for agitation in dementia: systematic review of randomised controlled trials

BACKGROUND

Agitation in dementia is common, persistent and distressing and can lead to care breakdown. Medication is often ineffective and harmful.

AIMS

To systematically review randomised controlled trial evidence regarding non-pharmacological interventions. Method We reviewed 33 studies fitting predetermined criteria, assessed their validity and calculated standardised effect sizes (SES).

RESULTS

Person-centred care, communication skills training and adapted dementia care mapping decreased symptomatic and severe agitation in care homes immediately (SES range 0.3-1.8) and for up to 6 months afterwards (SES range 0.2-2.2). Activities and music therapy by protocol (SES range 0.5-0.6) decreased overall agitation and sensory intervention decreased clinically significant agitation immediately. Aromatherapy and light therapy did not demonstrate efficacy.

CONCLUSIONS

There are evidence-based strategies for care homes. Future interventions should focus on consistent and long-term implementation through staff training. Further research is needed for people living in their own homes.

Music therapy for service users with dementia: a critical review of the literature

Dementia is an organic mental health problem that has been estimated to affect over 23 million people worldwide. With increasing life expectancy in most countries, it has been estimated that the prevalence of dementia will continue to significantly increase in the next two decades. Dementia leads to cognitive impairments most notably short-term memory loss and impairments in functioning and quality of life (QOL). National policy in the UK advocates the importance of early diagnosis, treatment and social inclusion in maintaining a good QOL. First-line treatment options often involve drug therapies aimed at slowing down the progression of the illness and antipsychotic medication to address challenging behaviours. To date, research into non-pharmacological interventions has been limited. In this manuscript, we review the literature that has reported evaluations of the effects of music therapy, a non-pharmacological intervention. The results of six studies reviewed suggest that music therapy may have potential benefits in reducing anxiety, depression and agitated behaviour displayed by elderly people with dementia as well as improving cognitive functioning and QOL. Furthermore, music therapy is a safe and low-cost intervention that could potentially be offered by mental health nurses and other carers working in residential settings.

Acceptability of an Advance Directive That Limits Food and Liquids in Advanced Dementia

Some individuals fear living with advanced dementia and may even commit suicide if they receive dementia diagnosis. Living with advanced dementia could be prevented if a person who cannot feed himself or herself would not be fed by others. The purpose of the study was to find out how acceptable would be an advance directive that includes discontinuation of feeding at certain stage of dementia for relatives of persons who died with dementia. All participants of 2 focus groups would be willing to indicate at least 1 condition in which they would not want to be fed. Some of them would be willing to make a proxy decision to stop feeding in the absence of advance directives.

The role of reading on the health and well-being of people with neurological conditions: a systematic review

OBJECTIVES

Little research has been conducted that investigates the benefits of reading for people with neurological conditions despite its age old use to improve well-being. The aim of this study was to identify and review the evidence of the effect of 'lone' reading, reading aloud and shared reading groups on the health and well-being of people with neurological conditions in clinical and long-term care settings.

METHODS

A literature search was conducted incorporating a systematic search of electronic databases, internet searching, 'snowballing' technique from references of relevant studies and consultation with clinicians and academics in the field.

RESULTS

Twelve studies (five quantitative, three qualitative and four mixed methods) met the criteria for inclusion in the review. No randomised controlled trials were identified. Significant heterogeneity in the results of the quantitative studies precluded statistical data synthesis. Thematic analysis and synthesis was applied to the three qualitative studies and the qualitative data of the mixed-method studies. All but one of the quantitative studies reported that the reading interventions had a positive effect. The evidence from the qualitative studies demonstrated multiple positive effects of shared reading groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The effect of 'lone' reading, reading aloud and shared reading groups on the health and well-being of people with neurological conditions is currently an under-researched area. Although this review reports encouraging results of positive effects, the results should be viewed with caution due to the lack of randomisation, the small numbers of participants involved, and the limited and heterogeneous evidence base.

The value of personalized psychosocial interventions to address behavioral and psychological symptoms in people with dementia living in care home settings: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Several important systematic reviews and meta-analyses focusing on psychosocial interventions have been undertaken in the last decade. However, they have not focused specifically on the treatment of individual behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) with personalized interventions. This updated systematic review will focus on studies reporting the effect of personalized psychosocial interventions on key BPSD in care homes.

METHODS

Systematic review of the evidence for psychosocial interventions for BPSD, focusing on papers published between 2000 and 2012. All care home and nursing home studies including individual and cluster randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and pre-/post-test studies with control conditions were included.

RESULTS

641 studies were identified, of which 40 fulfilled inclusion and exclusion criteria. There was good evidence to support the value of personalized pleasant activities with and without social interaction for the treatment of agitation, and reminiscence therapy to improve mood. The evidence for other therapies was more limited.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a growing body of evidence indicating specific effects of different personalized psychosocial interventions on individual BPSD and mood outcomes.

Recommendations for the use of Serious Games in people with Alzheimer's Disease, related disorders and frailty

Alzheimer's disease and other related disorders (ADRD) represent a major challenge for health care systems within the aging population. It is therefore important to develop better instruments to assess the disease severity and progression, as well as to improve its treatment, stimulation, and rehabilitation. This is the underlying idea for the development of Serious Games (SG). These are digital applications specially adapted for purposes other than entertaining; such as rehabilitation, training and education. Recently, there has been an increase of interest in the use of SG targeting patients with ADRD. However, this field is completely uncharted, and the clinical, ethical, economic and research impact of the employment of SG in these target populations has never been systematically addressed. The aim of this paper is to systematically analyze the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) of employing SG with patients with ADRD in order to provide practical recommendations for the development and use of SG in these populations. These analyses and recommendations were gathered, commented on and validated during a 2-round workshop in the context of the 2013 Clinical Trial of Alzheimer's Disease (CTAD) conference, and endorsed by stakeholders in the field. The results revealed that SG may offer very useful tools for professionals involved in the care of patients suffering from ADRD. However, more interdisciplinary work should be done in order to create SG specifically targeting these populations. Furthermore, in order to acquire more academic and professional credibility and acceptance, it will be necessary to invest more in research targeting efficacy and feasibility. Finally, the emerging ethical challenges should be considered a priority.

A non-pharmacologic approach to address challenging behaviors of Veterans with dementia: description of the tailored activity program-VA randomized trial

Background

Behavioral symptoms accompanying dementia are associated with increased health care costs, reduced quality of life and daily functioning, heightened family caregiver burden, and nursing home placement. Standard care typically involves pharmacologic agents, but these are, at best, modestly effective, carry serious risks, including mortality, and do not address behavioral symptoms families consider most distressful and which may prompt nursing home placement. Given dementia’s devastating effects and the absence of an imminent cure, the Veterans Administration has supported the development and testing of new approaches to manage challenging behaviors at home.

Methods/Design

The Tailored Activity Program – Veterans Administration is a Phase III efficacy trial designed to reduce behavioral symptoms in Veterans with dementia living with their caregivers in the community. The study uses a randomized two-group parallel design with 160 diverse Veterans and caregivers. The experimental group receives a transformative patient-centric intervention designed to reduce the burden of behavioral symptoms in Veterans with dementia. An occupational therapist conducts an assessment to identify a Veteran’s preserved capabilities, deficit areas, previous roles, habits, and interests to develop activities tailored to the Veteran. Family caregivers are then trained to incorporate activities into daily care. The attention-control group receives bi-monthly telephone contact where education on topics relevant to dementia is provided to caregivers. Key outcomes include reduced frequency and severity of behavioral symptoms using the 12-item Neuropsychiatric Inventory (primary endpoint), reduced caregiver burden, enhanced skill acquisition, efficacy using activities, and time spent providing care at 4 months; and long-term effects (8 months) on the Veteran’s quality of life and frequency and severity of behavioral symptoms, and caregiver use of activities. The programs’ impact of Veterans Administration cost is also examined. Study precision will be increased through face-to-face research team trainings with procedural manuals and review of audio-taped interviews and intervention sessions.

Discussion

The Tailored Activity Program – Veterans Administration is designed to improve the quality of life of Veterans with dementia and lessen the burden of care on caregivers. Activities are tailored to reflect the Veteran’s preserved capabilities and interests to enhance active engagement, while not taxing areas of cognition that are most impaired.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01357564

Noncontingent reinforcement of disruptive behaviors in personal care home settings

The purpose of this case study was to examine the potential of using noncontingent reinforcement (NCR) to reduce the frequency of disruptive behaviors of three elderly persons in personal care home (PCH) settings. Assessment indicated that participants were engaging in the disruptive behaviors to obtain social attention from PCH staff. Social attention, up to 1 min of staff making eye contact with the participant and directing positive verbal statements toward the participant, was given on a fixed time interval (from morning through early evening) beginning every 20 min and fading to every 30 min. Results indicate that NCR reduced the frequency of the disruptive behaviors.

A randomized crossover trial to study the effect of personalized, one-to-one interaction using Montessori-based activities on agitation, affect, and engagement in nursing home residents with Dementia

BACKGROUND

Increasingly more attention has been paid to non-pharmacological interventions as treatment of agitated behaviors that accompany dementia. The aim of the current study is to test if personalized one-to-one interaction activities based on Montessori principles will improve agitation, affect, and engagement more than a relevant control condition.

METHODS

We conducted a randomized crossover trial in nine residential facilities in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia (n = 44). Personalized one-to-one activities that were delivered using Montessori principles were compared with a non-personalized activity to control for the non-specific benefits of one-to-one interaction. Participants were observed 30 minutes before, during, and after the sessions. The presence or absence of a selected physically non-aggressive behavior was noted in every minute, together with the predominant type of affect and engagement.

RESULTS

Behavior counts fell considerably during both the Montessori and control sessions relative to beforehand. During Montessori activities, the amount of time spend actively engaged was double compared to during the control condition and participants displayed more positive affect and interest as well. Participants with no fluency in English (all from non-English speaking backgrounds) showed a significantly larger reduction in agitation during the Montessori than control sessions.

CONCLUSION

Our results show that even non-personalized social contact can assist in settling agitated residents. Tailoring activities to residents' needs and capabilities elicit more positive interactions and are especially suitable for people who have lost fluency in the language spoken predominantly in their residential facility. Future studies could explore implementation by family members and volunteers to avoid demands on facilities' resources.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry - ACTRN12609000564257.

Relationship between symptoms of depression and agitation in nursing home residents with dementia

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to analyze modifiable factors related to agitation of nursing home residents with dementia.

METHODS

Relationship of agitation with three modifiable factors (depression, psychosis, and pain) was explored using longitudinal Minimum Data Set (MDS) information from 2032 residents of Dutch nursing homes. Presence of agitation and depression was ascertained using validated scales based on MDS information. Presence of psychosis and pain was ascertained from the individual MDS items.

RESULTS

There was a significant correlation between MDS depression and agitation scores. Depression scores increased in residents whose agitation worsened and decreased in residents whose agitation improved. Psychosis scores (combination of delusions and hallucinations) also correlated with MDS depression scores, and psychosis scores increased in residents whose agitation worsened. Pain scores correlated with agitation scores, but the pain scores did not change with changes in agitation. Depression symptoms were present in 51% of residents, while psychotic symptoms were present only in 15% of residents, and two-thirds of these residents were also depressed.

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that depression may be the most common factor associated with agitation in nursing home residents with dementia.

Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia

Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), also known as neuropsychiatric symptoms, represent a heterogeneous group of non-cognitive symptoms and behaviors occurring in subjects with dementia. BPSD constitute a major component of the dementia syndrome irrespective of its subtype. They are as clinically relevant as cognitive symptoms as they strongly correlate with the degree of functional and cognitive impairment. BPSD include agitation, aberrant motor behavior, anxiety, elation, irritability, depression, apathy, disinhibition, delusions, hallucinations, and sleep or appetite changes. It is estimated that BPSD affect up to 90% of all dementia subjects over the course of their illness, and is independently associated with poor outcomes, including distress among patients and caregivers, long-term hospitalization, misuse of medication, and increased health care costs. Although these symptoms can be present individually it is more common that various psychopathological features co-occur simultaneously in the same patient. Thus, categorization of BPSD in clusters taking into account their natural course, prognosis, and treatment response may be useful in the clinical practice. The pathogenesis of BPSD has not been clearly delineated but it is probably the result of a complex interplay of psychological, social, and biological factors. Recent studies have emphasized the role of neurochemical, neuropathological, and genetic factors underlying the clinical manifestations of BPSD. A high degree of clinical expertise is crucial to appropriately recognize and manage the neuropsychiatric symptoms in a patient with dementia. Combination of non-pharmacological and careful use of pharmacological interventions is the recommended therapeutic for managing BPSD. Given the modest efficacy of current strategies, there is an urgent need to identify novel pharmacological targets and develop new non-pharmacological approaches to improve the adverse outcomes associated with BPSD.

An analysis of the relationships among engagement, agitated behavior, and affect in nursing home residents with dementia

BACKGROUND

Affect, behavior, and cognition can be considered as basic constructs that dictate human functioning, with intricate and bi-directional relationships among them. Prior to the present study, relationships among these constructs have not been systematically examined within the context of dementia.

METHODS

Sample 1 contained 185 nursing home residents with a diagnosis of dementia. Sample 2 contained 117 residents with dementia, all of whom manifested agitated behaviors. Outcome measures included stimulus engagement (assessed via the Observational Measure of Engagement), affect (measured using Lawton's Modified Behavior Stream), and agitation/problem behavior (recorded via the Agitated Behaviors Mapping Instrument). Real time direct observations were collected during both stimulus presentation and control conditions.

RESULTS

The relationship of engagement with positive affect, represented by the variables of interest and pleasure, were high and positive. No relationship emerged for engagement with negative affect or agitated behavior. A consistent positive relationship was found between agitated behavior and negative affect, and in Sample 2, a negative relationship between agitated behavior and both pleasure and interest.

CONCLUSION

This is the first study to examine relationships among variables that are typically examined individually and, in doing so, has clarified the nomenclature used to describe the constructs of affect, engagement, and agitated behaviors in persons with dementia. The finding that the constructs of engagement, agitated behavior, and affect are multidimensional and that relationships among these constructs occur for some of the dimensions is important for the development of interventions and for clear communication in practice and research.

Sedative load of medications prescribed for older people with dementia in care homes

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study was to determine the sedative load and use of sedative and psychotropic medications among older people with dementia living in (residential) care homes.

METHODS

Medication data were collected at baseline and at two further time-points for eligible residents of six care homes participating in the EVIDEM-End Of Life (EOL) study for whom medication administration records were available. Regular medications were classified using the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification system and individual sedative loads were calculated using a previously published model.

RESULTS

At baseline, medication administration records were reviewed for 115 residents; medication records were reviewed for 112 and 105 residents at time-points 2 and 3 respectively. Approximately one-third of residents were not taking any medications with sedative properties at each time-point, while a significant proportion of residents had a low sedative load score of 1 or 2 (54.8%, 59.0% and 57.1% at baseline and time-points 2 and 3 respectively). More than 10% of residents had a high sedative load score (≥ 3) at baseline (12.2%), and this increased to 14.3% at time-points 2 and 3. Approximately two-thirds of residents (66.9%) regularly used one or more psychotropic medication(s). Antidepressants, predominantly selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs), were most frequently used, while antipsychotics, hypnotics and anxiolytics were less routinely administered. The prevalence of antipsychotic use among residents was 19.0%, lower than has been previously reported for nursing home residents. Throughout the duration of the study, administration of medications recognised as having prominent sedative adverse effects and/or containing sedative components outweighed the regular use of primary sedatives.

CONCLUSIONS

Sedative load scores were similar throughout the study period for residents with dementia in each of the care homes. Scores were lower than previously reported in studies conducted in long-term care wards which have on-site clinical support. Nevertheless, strategies to optimise drug therapy for care home residents with dementia which rely on clinicians external to the care home for support and medication review are required.

Managing the patient with dementia in long-term care

The majority of residents in a nursing home have some degree of dementia. The prevalence is commonly from 70% to 80% of residents. This article covers the following topics on caring for patients with dementia in long-term care: (1) the efficacy of cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine, (2) the optimal environment for maintenance of function in moderate dementia, (3) the treatment of depression and agitation, and (4) the evaluation and management of eating problems.