Interventions for decreasing agitation behaviors in persons with dementia

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Nursing Science
• Psychiatry

Background:

• High stress is a potential trigger for agitation behaviors in individuals with dementia.
• Stress management interventions may be beneficial for reducing stress levels in this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of two nursing interventions, hand massage and therapeutic touch, in managing agitation behaviors in persons with dementia.
• To assess the impact of these interventions on stress levels and relaxation responses.

Main Methods:

• The study involved persons with dementia who exhibited agitation behaviors.
• Two specific nursing interventions were implemented: hand massage and therapeutic touch.
• The interventions aimed to elicit a relaxation response and reduce stress.

Main Results:

• Both hand massage and therapeutic touch were effective in inducing a relaxation response in patients with dementia.
• Neither intervention demonstrated a significant decrease in agitation behaviors.
• Hand massage proved to be more effective than therapeutic touch in promoting relaxation.

Conclusions:

• Nursing interventions like hand massage and therapeutic touch can induce relaxation in persons with dementia.
• These interventions may not be sufficient to decrease observed agitation behaviors.
• Hand massage is a preferred intervention for relaxation compared to therapeutic touch in this population.