Behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia and their management in care homes within the East of England: A postal survey

Backhouse, Tamara, Killett, Anne, Penhale, Bridget, Burns, Diane and Gray, Richard (2013) Behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia and their management in care homes within the East of England: A postal survey. Aging & Mental Health, 18 (2). pp. 187-193. ISSN 1360-7863

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Abstract

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of antipsychotic use in care homes. To explore which behaviours care home staff can find difficult to manage and which non-pharmacological interventions are currently used within care homes to help cope with behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia. Method: A postal survey sent to all care homes registered as specialising in the care of older people or/and older people with dementia within four counties in the East of England (n ¼ 747). Results: Questionnaires were returned from 299 care home managers (40%). The vast majority (n ¼ 200, 73%) reported having at least one resident with an antipsychotic prescription in their home. Twelve percent (n ¼ 1027) of care home residents were reported to be prescribed antipsychotic medications. Aggression was most frequently reported, by 37% (n ¼ 109) of care home managers, as a difficult behaviour to manage. Non-pharmacological interventions were reported to be used in 87% (n ¼ 253) of care homes. The interventions most commonly used in care homes to manage difficult behaviours were reminiscence (75%, n ¼ 219) and music therapy (73%, n ¼ 213). Conclusion: This survey was a first attempt to estimate the use of antipsychotics in care homes. Despite measures to reduce antipsychotic use for all people with dementia in England, we found that 12% of care home residents were still prescribed antipsychotic medication. Around half of all care home managers reported they had experienced behaviours they found difficult. Antipsychotic medications and a variety of non-pharmacological interventions appear to be used concurrently in many care homes.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: care homes; homes for the aged; antipsychotic agents; non-pharmacological interventions; behavioural and
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > School of Rehabilitation Sciences (former - to 2014)
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Participation (former - to 2013)
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Improving Access to Care (former - to 2017)
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Health in Later Life (former - to 2017)
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Dementia & Complexity in Later Life
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Lifespan Health
Depositing User: Pure Connector
Date Deposited: 06 Jan 2014 14:44
Last Modified: 28 Jan 2025 15:14
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/45909
DOI:

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