Understanding Behaviour in Dementia That Challenges: A Guide to Assessment and Treatment

As people grow older, their physical and psychological needs become more complex. Unmet needs often result in challenging behaviour, particularly if the person suffers from dementia. Ian Andrew James looks beyond the behaviour itself to the causes behind it, suggesting both medical and non-pharmalogical approaches to lessening suffering and improving quality of life and wellbeing. Recognising that challenging behaviours occur at times of distress and reflect an attempt to cope with difficult situations, this book works towards understanding the nature of this distress, examining the views of the client and using the information gathered to prevent repetition of upsetting and uncomfortable circumstances. Older people frequently suffer from pain, and from a lack of stimulation, companionship and autonomy, yet positive steps can be taken to create a happier environment, particularly in care homes. Following an exploration of the nature of challenging behaviour, the book goes on to discuss psychotropic medication, psychological approaches, conceptual models for aiding assessment and treatment, and an example of the Unmet Needs Model in action. The book concludes with a series of insightful case studies, which clarify the content and will enable anyone dealing with challenging behaviour in older people to set about improving it. This book will be of great interest to everybody involved in the care of older people, including care staff and healthcare practitioners. This series constitutes a set of accessible, jargon-free, evidence-based good practice guides for all those involved in the care of people with dementia and their families. The series draws together a range of evidence including the experience of people with dementia and their families, practice wisdom, and research and scholarship to promote quality of life and quality of care.