Activity kits as a first line intervention to care for individuals with dementia

Older adults with dementia experience difficulty communicating secondary to cognitive impairments. The cognitively intact patient states his or her needs directly, whereas cognitively impaired patients manifest behaviors such as agitation, wandering, and calling out.2 Restraints and sedation are some of the common measures utilized to manage these behaviors; however non-pharmacological interventions should be the first line of treatment.2,3 At Saint Joseph's Health (SJH), in northern New Jersey, nurses are encouraged to implement the SJH Therapeutic Activity Kit before these behaviors start.
Source: Geriatric Nursing - Category: Nursing Authors: Tags: NICHE Section Source Type: research