As people grow older, their physical and
psychological needs become more complex. Unmet needs
often result in challenging behaviour, particularly if
the person suffers from dementia. Ian Andrew James looks
beyond the behaviour itself to the causes behind it,
suggesting both medical and non-pharmalogical approaches
to lessening suffering and improving quality of life and
wellbeing. Recognising that challenging behaviours occur
at times of distress and reflect an attempt to cope with
difficult situations, this book works towards
understanding the nature of this distress, examining the
views of the client and using the information gathered
to prevent repetition of upsetting and uncomfortable
circumstances. Older people frequently suffer from pain,
and from a lack of stimulation, companionship and
autonomy, yet positive steps can be taken to create a
happier environment, particularly in care homes.
Following an exploration of the nature of challenging
behaviour, the book goes on to discuss psychotropic
medication, psychological approaches, conceptual models
for aiding assessment and treatment, and an example of
the Unmet Needs Model in action.The book concludes with
a series of insightful case studies, which clarify the
content and will enable anyone dealing with challenging
behaviour in older people to set about improving it.
This book will be of great interest to everybody
involved in the care of older people, including care
staff and healthcare practitioners. This series
constitutes a set of accessible, jargon-free,
evidence-based good practice guides for all those
involved in the care of people with dementia and their
families. The series draws together a range of evidence
including the experience of people with dementia and
their families, practice wisdom, and research and
scholarship to promote quality of life and quality of
care. |
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