Related Experiment Videos
Management of verbally disruptive behaviors in nursing home residents
1Research Institute, Hebrew Home of Greater Washington, Haifa, Israel.
Background:
Verbally disruptive behaviors (VDB) are verbal or vocal behaviors that are inappropriate to the circumstances in which they are manifested. These behaviors are a source of concern because they disturb persons around the older person and may be an indicator of distress.
Methods:
Three interventions were tried and compared to a control no-intervention phase. The interventions were: (1) Presentation of a videotape of a family member talking to the older person, (2) in vivo social interaction, and (3) use of music.
Results:
Thirty-two nursing home residents suffering from dementia and manifesting VDB were observed before, during, and after the interventions, and the duration of VDB was recorded. The behaviors decreased by 56% during the social interaction, 46% during the videotape, 31% during the music, and 16% during the no-intervention.
Conclusions:
The effects of the interventions were clinically and statistically significant, indicating the importance of providing stimulating activities and a richer environment to cognitively impaired nursing home residents.