Challenging Behaviour In Dementia

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Challenging Behaviour in Dementia A person centred approach Maria Mulhall Exact word count: 3,052 This paper will discuss the nature of challenging behaviour displayed by a person with dementia. The writer will give a personal account of a client with dementia whosebehaviour was challenging for the care giver. The writer will discuss person centred approaches to care and indicate literature and research to support same. The writer will use Trudy as a case study to outline the implementation of a person centred approach to meet individual needs. In doing this the writer will discuss effective care and therapies and how they were used to improve Trudy’s care and quality of life. Models such as the needs driven dementia compromised behaviour…show more content…
It has also been described as any behaviour by a patient that is deemed to be dangerous to themselves, their fellow patients and staff or is considered antisocial within environments where those patients have to coexist with others on a long term basis (Andrews, 2006). These behaviours may or may not affect the client negatively. Certainly the challenge lies in the provision of care and how behaviours distress the family and care givers. Often however these non-cognitive symptoms can further restrict quality of life of the person with dementia and are often the reason for placement in a long term care…show more content…
Reality orientation is one of the most widely used management strategies for dealing with people with dementia (Holden and Woods, 1995). It aims to help people with memory loss and disorientation by reminding them of facts about themselves and their environment. As I said earlier Trudy would have lucid periods where she knew she was in hospital. At these times I could say “Trudy you are staying in hospital for the moment Paddy is not well enough to take care of you at the moment”. Trudy would accept this and understand that I was a nurse and I was there to help. Telling her that family member would visit her daily comforted her. I would re-orientate her to her bedroom and wardrobe which had signs with her name and show her the sign on the door of toilet. Although research has shown the efficacy of this approach, it has also been claimed that reality orientation can remind the person with dementia of their deterioration and cause an initial lowering of mood (Goudie & Stokes,

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