Dementia and agitation in nursing home residents: how are they related?
The link between agitated behaviors and cognitive functioning in 408 nursing home residents was examined. Results showed that cognitively impaired residents manifested aggressive behaviors (e.g., cursing, hitting) and physically nonaggressive behaviors (e.g., pacing). The highest levels of physically nonaggressive behaviors were manifested by those residents who presented intermediate levels of impairment in their performance of activities of daily living. Cognitively intact residents exhibited verbally agitated behaviors (e.g., complaining). These findings have important implications for caregivers of agitated nursing home residents.
Cohen-Mansfield
J
J
Research Institute, Hebrew Home of Greater Washington, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
Marx
M S
MS
Rosenthal
A S
AS
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000374:Aggression; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000209:etiology*; D014705:Verbal Behavior