Steven Atkinson – Challenging Geriatric Behaviors

Outline

Normal Aging, Dementia, Depression or DeliriumNormal Aging, Dementia, Depression or Delirium

• Normal aging changes of the mindNormal aging changes of the mind
• Depression, dementia, and deliriumDepression, dementia, and delirium
• Alzheimer’s disease and other dementiasAlzheimer’s disease and other dementias
• Diagnose, differentiate, and develop a plan of careDiagnose, differentiate, and develop a plan of care

Alzheimer’s DiseaseAlzheimer’s Disease

• StagesStages
• AssessmentAssessment
• Getting a diagnosisGetting a diagnosis
• Behavioral issues of early diagnosisBehavioral issues of early diagnosis
• Management and interventionsManagement and interventions
• Pharmacological treatmentsPharmacological treatments

Driving with DementiaDriving with Dementia

• Driving safetyDriving safety
• Legal issuesLegal issues
• Assess driving abilitiesAssess driving abilities
• How to take the keys awayHow to take the keys away

WanderingWandering

• Reasons why cognitively impaired individuals wanderReasons why cognitively impaired individuals wander
• Is wandering a bad thing?Is wandering a bad thing?
• Issues to considerIssues to consider
• Manage a wanderer’s behaviorManage a wanderer’s behavior

Physical AggressionPhysical Aggression

• Identify the cause of aggressionIdentify the cause of aggression
• Loss of impulse controlLoss of impulse control
• Regression of the mind/child-like mindRegression of the mind/child-like mind
• Manage the problemManage the problem

Inappropriate Sexual BehaviorsInappropriate Sexual Behaviors

• Normal sexual drive or inappropriate behaviorNormal sexual drive or inappropriate behavior
• Cognitively impaired individualsCognitively impaired individuals
• Medication managementMedication management
• Ethical considerationsEthical considerations

Refusing to Eat/Forgetting to EatRefusing to Eat/Forgetting to Eat

• Reasons why geriatric patients slow or stop eatingReasons why geriatric patients slow or stop eating
• Nutritional needs in a geriatric patientNutritional needs in a geriatric patient
• Improve nutritional statusImprove nutritional status
• Malnutrition and dehydrationMalnutrition and dehydration
• Alternatives to eatingAlternatives to eating

Sleepless NightsSleepless Nights

• Sundowning and behavioral problems in the eveningSundowning and behavioral problems in the evening
• Why does sundowning occur?Why does sundowning occur?
• Environmental interventions to decrease aggressive behaviorsEnvironmental interventions to decrease aggressive behaviors
• Medication management when it becomes problematicMedication management when it becomes problematic

Caregiver StressCaregiver Stress

• Physical, psychological, and emotional stressPhysical, psychological, and emotional stress
• Identify caregiver burnout and ways to helpIdentify caregiver burnout and ways to help
• Assist the caregiverAssist the caregiver

Other IssuesOther Issues

• Ways to identify potential falls and prevent injuryWays to identify potential falls and prevent injury
• Causes for orthostatic hypotensionCauses for orthostatic hypotension
• Ways to avoid using restraintsWays to avoid using restraints

Case Studies: Learning from Experience and MistakesCase Studies: Learning from Experience and Mistakes

• How to manage sundownersHow to manage sundowners
• Strategies to improve hygieneStrategies to improve hygiene
• Reassurance and redirectionReassurance and redirection