Behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia and their management in care homes within the East of England: A postal survey

Backhouse, Tamara; Killett, Anne; Penhale, Bridget; Burns, Diane; Gray, Richard

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of antipsychotic use in care homes. To explore which behaviours care home staff can find difficult to manage and which non-pharmacological interventions are currently used within care homes to help cope with behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia.Method: A postal survey sent to all care homes registered as specialising in the care of older people or/and older people with dementia within four counties in the East of England (n = 747).Results: Questionnaires were returned from 299 care home managers (40%). The vast majority (n = 200, 73%) reported having at least one resident with an antipsychotic prescription in their home. Twelve percent (n = 1027) of care home residents were reported to be prescribed antipsychotic medications. Aggression was most frequently reported, by 37% (n = 109) of care home managers, as a difficult behaviour to manage. Non-pharmacological interventions were reported to be used in 87% (n = 253) of care homes. The interventions most commonly used in care homes to manage difficult behaviours were reminiscence (75%, n = 219) and music therapy (73%, n = 213).Conclusion: This survey was a first attempt to estimate the use of antipsychotics in care homes. Despite measures to reduce antipsychotic use for all people with dementia in England, we found that 12% of care home residents were still prescribed antipsychotic medication. Around half of all care home managers reported they had experienced behaviours they found difficult. Antipsychotic medications and a variety of non-pharmacological interventions appear to be used concurrently in many care homes. © 2013 Taylor & Francis.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Feb 17, 2014
• Journal: Aging and Mental Health
• Print ISSN: 1360-7863
• Electronic ISSN: 1364-6915
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis (Routledge)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 18
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 187-193
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2013.819834
• Keywords: care homes, homes for the aged, antipsychotic agents, non-pharmacological interventions, behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD)
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/929655
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2013.819834