Aug 30, 2017

The Common Sense Behind Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia

Dementia is, according to World Health Organsation (WHO) defined as affecting “acquired impairment of higher mental functions, including memory, the capacity to solve everyday living problems, the performance of learned skills, the correct use of social skills, all aspects of language and the control of emotional reactions.”

Jackie Brooker, a registered nurse for many years, has worked in a number of fields and is particularly passionate about aged and dementia care, says that in reality the “definition of dementia is different for everyone”.

Brooker says she tells people that dementia is where “parts of your brain dies, and messages can no longer get through”.

Speaking at the Dementia Care Delivery Summit, Brooker talked about her experiences as a clinical nurse consultant, where she works closely with aged care staff to better understand a person who is exhibiting behavioural or psychological symptoms.

Her work primarily consists of non-pharmacological intervention for people with dementia, though she admits that in some cases such as pain, pharmaceutical interventions are used.

As she is referred to patients, “I go to the facility, I assess the person and find out what their story and then tell the staff ‘it’s common sense, guys’”.

She explains that “we” call them “challenging behaviours” because it is us who finds them challenging. We call them “difficult behaviours” because we find them difficult.

It’s important to unpack and better understand the resident to really know why they act the way they do.

One female resident, who would kick and scream every time she was placed in the chair for her outbursts, was dismissed as BPSD.

However it was later discovered that she was a survivor of Auschwitz, and that being forced to shower brought back memories of trauma.   

Once that was understood, the resident was never sent for a shower again. Instead she was bathed and she never showed aggressive behaviours towards her carers again.

Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia, also known as BPSD come from cognitive decline.

Common symptoms are;

  • Agitation
  • Disinhibition/social inappropriateness
  • Vocal disruption
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Lack of awareness
  • Mood swings
  • Sleep disturbance
  • Impulsivity
  • Apathy or lack drive and energy
  • Repetitive behaviour
  • Verbal and Physical Aggression

When these are seen in older people with dementia, these behaviors that are not “normal” are attributed to their condition. Things like banging on the dining table, or screaming when their clothes are changed.

However, Brooker explains that for the person with dementia, all they are doing is trying to communicate.

“Send me your challenging and difficult (residents) and I will show you that it is simply common sense,” Brooker says.

“These are our elders, let’s look after them they way they looked after us.”

What do you have to say? Comment, share and like below.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

A new reality: residents experience Opera like they never have before

Residents from Ryman Healthcare’s Nellie Melba Retirement Village have been treated to an operatic experience like no other during Australia’s first virtual reality (VR) opera trial. With doors to theatres across Melbourne closed, and a cloud of uncertainty caused by COVID-19 still hanging over much of the industry, eight village residents, including Australian opera icon... Read More

Science Weighs In On Dementia, Ways To Help And Prevent

By Amy Henderson – Journalist For many dementia is an ugly word. It is the thing that has taken their freedom from them, for spouses it is the thing that has changed the person they have loved for decades. It is a thing they fear, it is a thing they hate. To enter into this... Read More

3 Mental Health Benefits of Exercise

A study has shown that a growing number of older adults in Australia are living with the cognitive disorder of dementia. According to the research, more than 413,106 Australians are living with dementia, and this number is projected to increase to 536,164 by 2025. Apart from this condition, the elderly are also coping with loneliness and... Read More
Advertisement