The death of 95-year-old aged care resident Clare Nowland after being allegedly Tasered by police is a tragic reminder of the importance of dementia training.
Associate Professor Steve Macfarlane, Head of Clinical Services with Dementia Support Australia, which is led by HammondCare, told The SOURCE, “There is much room for improvement to the way in which behaviours and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are managed.”
Dementia Support Australia, which supports aged care homes and home-based carers to manage BPSD, receives about 14,000 referrals for their services every year.
We asked Steve, what can aged care workers do to prevent those living with dementia from becoming aggressive?
“Aggression and agitation are not diagnoses in themselves, but symptoms. Symptoms have causes, and these must be identified in order to adequately address the behaviours themselves,” Steve said.
“An in-depth knowledge of the person being cared for is key to the prevention of aggression. If carers are familiar with a resident’s known likes, dislikes, preferences and behavioural triggers, many aggressive incidents could be avoided before they occur.
“Leading contributing factors that may contribute to behaviours including unidentified or under treated pain, approaches by carers that are unfamiliar with cognitive impairment and over or under stimulation.”
When a person living with dementia does become agitated or violent, what are some ways to deescalate the situation?
“The best way to manage most behavioural changes is to prevent those circumstances that lead to their development in the first place,” Steve said.
“Prevention is always better than cure.
“Once behaviours are occurring, however, there is no single correct way to de-escalate such behaviours.
“The appropriate de-escalation strategies will always be specific to what has caused the altered behaviour in the first place.
“Some general principles, however, are that other residents should be removed from the situation, and the person given space to calm down on their own where possible.
“The presence of multiple staff crowding around the person should be avoided, as this will only increase any perception of threat that might be present.
“A senior staff member with good communication skills and who has previously enjoyed a good rapport with the person may be best placed to take the lead.
“Body language should be opening and non-threatening, and communication conducted in a quiet and calm manner.”
Dementia Support Australia 1800 699 799 www.dementia.com.au
