DEMENTIA

Psychosocial Aggression in Dementia

Psychosocial Aggression in Dementia

Introduction

The neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia, also known as Behavioral and psychological symptoms (BPSD) represents a non cognitive heterogeneous group of symptoms. The BPSD development is a major concern for institutionalization (O'Donnell et al., 1992, p.2) and the caregivers (Coen et al., 1997, p.3). The symptoms of dementia burden to the caregiver and institutionalism includes sleep-awake cycle, paranoia and aggression. Aggression in dementia is an issue as it represents challenges for the caregivers and nurses.

When a person with dementia comes to emergency department, it is the responsibility of the nurses, health and social care providers to identify the issues of the patient and to provide care to aggressive dementia patient. The nurses provide care to the aggressive dementia patient through assessment evaluation of patient's behavioral, environmental and social symptoms as a first line of treatment. The nurse checks patient's intellectual, emotional, physical, social and environmental factors and develop interventions based on assessments. The consent must be provided by the nurse to the patient and family before the pharmacological treatment includes antipsychotic medications and monitor the effectiveness and potential harms related to the drug. Nurse also present cognitive improvement practice and social interaction (The Clinical Practice Guideline on Cognitive Impairment in the Elderly: Recognition, Diagnosis and Management (2007, revised 2008, p. 1).

Discussion

Is the care offered good or bad? The statistics have shown that most of the people with dementia or memory problems live in care homes or hospitals. It is the prime responsibility of the health care sector to deliver high quality care to dementia patients through nursing care, social, psychological and pharmacological aspects. The practices have shown that much improvement is required to get better quality of care to control care in aggressive dementia patients. The hospital stay of the patient must reduce and discriminatory care further worsens the condition. The practice guidelines have to design for the nurses and practitioners on care quality delivery to dementia patient. The nursing concerns include the proper patient management by the professional nurses is challenging and require collaboration with the psychotherapist and physicians for better treatment and patient care. This also raises the issue of lack of communication.

The difficulties in time management to provide thorough care to the patient and spend time with patient decreases the nurse's affectivity related to dementia patients. The problems associated with the dementia patients wandering and not able to assure patient safety also influence the treatment and care. The cost effectiveness of the patient treatment of dementia in the hospital also reduces the significance of the treatment. The reduction in patient stay in the hospital around one week will generate savings of $80million. The admission to the care center or hospital for dementia patient is always not bad caring experience.

The nursing care for the dementia patient along with the psychiatrists and healthcare staff can improve through provision of optimal care in the surrounding social environment that encourages the healthy relations among residents, staff and ...