Restoring homeostasis in a residential care facility through behaviour modification.
A verbally aggressive, 32-year-old male with a traumatic brain injury was admitted to a unit in an aged care facility for residential care. The homeostasis of the unit was disrupted by the resident's verbal aggression and other inappropriate behaviours. With the guidance of a neuropsychologist, nursing staff were able to use behaviour modification to successfully replace the disruptive behaviours with more socially appropriate ones. A series of positive rewards was implemented in response to socially appropriate behaviour, whilst inappropriate behaviours received a negative reward. Several disruptive behaviours were affected by the single treatment implemented. This interdependence of targeted behaviours was viewed as a clinical advantage, as it served to provide a more rapid restoration of homeostasis to the unit. The use of a single-subject, multiple baseline design in this case study demonstrates that disruptive behaviours may be reversible.
Wilson
S
S
Austin & Repatriation Medical Centre, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.
Barrett
C
C
D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing*; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010358:Patient Participation