Agitation among elderly persons at adult day-care centers: the experiences of relatives and staff members.
Two hundred participants (mean age = 80 years) from five senior day-care centers were included in a study of agitation. Staff members at the centers and participants' relatives rated the frequency with which participants displayed agitated behaviors, via an expanded version of the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory. The most frequent behaviors noted were general restlessness, repetitious sentences, verbal interruptions, and pacing. A three-factor solution for staff members' ratings included (a) physically nonaggressive behaviors, including general restlessness and pacing; (b) verbally agitated behaviors, including complaining and constant requests for attention; and (c) aggressive verbal behaviors, including cursing and temper outbursts. A three-factor solution for relatives' ratings included (a) physically nonaggressive behaviors, including general restlessness and pacing; (b) verbally agitated behaviors, including constant requests for attention and related interruptions; and (c) aggressive behaviors, including cursing, grabbing, kicking, and pushing. The syndromes of both models showed similarity to the factors found in a nursing home population, although differences were also apparent.
Cohen-Mansfield
J
J
Research Institute of Hebrew Home of Greater Washington, Rockville, Maryland, USA.
Werner
P
P
Watson
V
V
Pasis
S
S
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003631:Day Care, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D012919:Social Behavior