[Canopy-enclosed bed for dementia patients with behavioural problems]

Patients with dementia almost all have one or more symptoms of problem behaviour. This problem behaviour includes a wide range of symptoms including depression, anxiety and apathy, and behavioural problems such as aggression, general restlessness, compulsion to walk, disinhibition and calling, and psychotic disorders such as delusions and hallucinations. Due to the persistence and complexity of problem behaviour in patients with dementia, doctors often prescribe psychotropic drugs for long periods of time. In nursing homes there is a great need for non-pharmacological treatments for patients with psychological or psychiatric problems. The canopy-enclosed bed seems to meet this need and has positive effects. We observed that within a few weeks of patients getting a canopy-enclosed bed, psychotropic drugs could be reduced or even stopped. Using a canopy-enclosed bed is a measure of restraint. Therefore it remains important to carefully trade off its deployment with the intended goal.