Language use of older Italian-background persons with dementia in mainstream and ethno-specific residential care.
BACKGROUND
Australia has a growing aging migrant population and rates of dementia in residential care are high. The communication of persons with dementia and limited English language proficiency in residential care is an area that has received little attention in the research literature.


METHODS
Thirty-nine Italian-background older persons with severe dementia residing in either mainstream (n = 20) or Italian-specific (n = 19) aged care facilities were observed and language use was recorded. Medication regime and language proficiency information was obtained.


RESULTS
Participants in mainstream facilities engaged in less communication with co-residents and were prescribed daytime benzodiazepines at a higher rate than those in Italian-specific facilities.


CONCLUSIONS
Older persons in mainstream facilities with dementia and lower levels of English proficiency may benefit from additional language-relevant resources. The finding of higher prescription rate of daytime benzodiazepines requires further investigation.
Runci
Susannah J
SJ
Department of Psychological Medicine, Monash University, Australia. Susannah.Runci@med.monash.edu.au
Redman
Jennifer R
JR
O'Connor
Daniel W
DW
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D007806:Language Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015588:Observer Variation; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012114:Residential Treatment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014705:Verbal Behavior
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs