title: Caring for residents with dementia and aggressive behavior: impact of life history knowledge.
abstract: Aggressive behavior is a frequent occurrence in the care of individuals with dementia. In this pilot study, the authors explored the impact of sharing patients' life histories with staff on four patients' aggression and interviewed nursing staff and families to determine the impact that developing and learning about the life history had on them. There was some evidence of decrease in aggression among the patients who demonstrated frequent aggressive behavior at baseline. Life history information affected some staff members profoundly, leading toward a greater empathy for the patient. This study demonstrates the feasibility and potential value of using life histories with residents who demonstrate aggressive behavior.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. megan@uottawa.ca
authors.forename: Mary Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Egan
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Munroe
authors.forename: Camille
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hubert
authors.forename: Trish
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rossiter
authors.forename: Annie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gauthier
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eisner
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fulford
authors.forename: Merilyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Neilson
authors.forename: Bonnie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Daros
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rodrigue
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003704:Dementia / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D004645:Empathy; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D005851:Geriatric Nursing / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D019359:Knowledge; D008016:Life Change Events; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D009735:Nursing Homes; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires