[Milieu therapy for patients with dementia. Appropriate, regular stimulation by pleasant experiences]

The target group includes caregivers of demented persons at home and in institutions. The aim is a synopsis of different ways to cope with behavioural disturbances by milieu-therapy for demented persons. Appeals are made to their remaining resources, thus getting them more joy and less frustration by less excessive demands. Less boring activities avoid to feel under-challenged. More activity during day-time provides better sleep at night.--Consequently there are less behavioural disturbances with less stress for caregivers thus enabling them to keep the patients longer at home, leading to lower health costs. Behavioural disturbances of demented persons should always be treated by milieu-therapy achieving a response rate of up to 60%. With application of adjuvant medication, e.g. geriatric neuroleptics, a rate of 70% is within reach. Milieu-therapy is optimal for the prevention of behavioural disturbances. The better the adaptation of milieu-therapy to the individual patient's deficits and lifestyle and to the lifestyle of his caregiver, the better the effect.