Impacts of a therapeutic environment for dementia care

This study explores the association ofphysical environments with the behaviors and care ofpeople with dementia. In order to have a comparative understanding, environmental settings of a traditional nursing facility and an innovative dementia care unit on the same campus were selected. Behavioral observations were done on 12 residents before and after their move ftrom the traditional facility to the dementia care unit. Resident and staffusage and behaviors in the shared spaces were systematically recorded and analyzed Findings include increased use ofthe activity spaces, increased social interaction among the residents, and more interactive than assistive behavior between the staff and residents

Issues related to behavior and the physical environment: bathing cognitively impaired patients

Twenty-two patients in moderate and late stages of dementia were observed for 8 weeks by caregiving staff of a special care unit. Results indicated that bathing in a typical institutional tub is both a source of apprehension and obstreperous behavior and a considerable departure from prior lifelong bathing experiences. Given information about the habits and idiosyncrasies of patients, staff can play an important role in minimizing obstreperous behaviors. Staff training and awareness of the physical environment, which included attention to the interrelationship between environment and behavior, were found to be instrumental in successful bathing.

Special care units: meeting the needs of cognitively impaired persons

1. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the fourth leading cause of death of older persons. Families frequently turn to nursing homes to provide the care that they are unable to provide during the later stages of the disease. 2. Sloane and Mathew concluded that special care units resulted in better care based on appearance, little difference in weight loss, similar range of services to traditional units, higher amount of interaction with residents more often out of their room, greater mobility, fewer medications, less physical restraint, and similar use of chemical restraints. 3. Alzheimer's disease does not affect an individual only; it affects a family. Effective programming includes the family. From the initial contact with the institution through placement on the special care unit--and often beyond the death of the resident--families are supported by the staff.