Evaluating De-Escalation Training for Direct and Indirect Employees Caring for Residents With Huntington's Disease

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Gerontology
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Huntington's disease (HD) presents significant challenges for patients and caregivers due to progressive motor, cognitive, and behavioral disturbances.
• Long-term care (LTC) facilities face concerns regarding staff safety and confidence when managing residents with HD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a de-escalation training intervention on healthcare staff caring for Huntington's disease patients in a rural LTC facility.
• To assess changes in employee confidence, perceived safety, and understanding of HD symptoms post-training.

Main Methods:

• A de-escalation training program was delivered to nursing staff, administrators, and auxiliary employees in an LTC facility.
• Pre- and post-intervention surveys measured employee confidence and competence.
• A resident medical record audit analyzed challenging behaviors before and after the training.

Main Results:

• Post-training, employees reported increased perceived safety (33.3%), improved co-worker enjoyment (54%), and better understanding of HD symptoms (44.4%).
• Confidence in job abilities (21.0%) and caring for HD patients (26.3%) also improved.
• Resident medical records showed a decrease in documented aggression and care refusal after the intervention.

Conclusions:

• De-escalation training enhances the perception of job safety and co-worker enjoyment in LTC settings.
• The intervention improved staff confidence and understanding of Huntington's disease, leading to reduced resident agitation and care refusal.