A Description of Agitation in a Nursing Home

Abstract

Agitation is a significant problem for elderly persons, their families, and their caregivers. This study describes the agitated behaviors of 408 nursing home residents. Nurses who were familiar with the residents used a 7-point scale to rate how often each resident manifested 29 agitated behaviors. Each resident was rated independently by three nurses, one from each of the three nursing shifts. Results showed that agitated behaviors occurred most often during the day shift (i.e., when residents were most active), and least often during the night shift. The most frequently exhibited agitated behaviors were general restlessness, pacing, repetitious sentences, requests for attention, complaining, negativism, and cursing. Most agitated behaviors correlated significantly across shifts, suggesting that such behaviors occur and reoccur throughout the 24-hour day. Factor analysis yielded three syndromes of agitation: aggressive behavior, physically nonaggressive behavior, and verbally agitated behavior. These results provide a foundation for further studies of agitation in elderly persons.

A comparison of the effects of Snoezelen and reminiscence therapy on the agitated behaviour of patients with dementia

“…The Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory short form (14 items) (Cohen-Mansfield et al, 1989a) was completed by the subject's keyworker to assess the frequency of agitated behaviour at the care unit. (Cohen-Mansfield et al, 1989b;Cohen-Mansfield, 1986) -The subject's behaviour was observed and rated using the ABMI with reference to 3-minute samples before, immediately after, 15 minutes after and 30 minutes after each therapy session.…”

Outcomes for Assessment of Symptomatic and Stabilization/Disease Modifying Drugs

“…The availability of general BPSD scales such as the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), as well as specific scales such as Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory, 15 has not allowed yet unequivocal demonstration of benefit in severe stages of AD. New methods of analysis of behavior have been proposed, 16,17 and will likely be more successful in defining categories of BPSD symptoms most responsive to CIs (anxiety, hallucinations), memantine (agitation) and other drugs.…”

Non-pharmacological interventions for aggression in persons with dementia: A 10-year follow-up review of the literature

“…Intervention protocols varied depending on the residents' needs, but could include various activities, such as walking the dog, playing with the dog, petting the dog, feeding it, talking to it, brushing it, reminiscing about pets, and talking to the dog handler. The researchers used the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI) [32] to measure several behaviors, including physically aggressive behaviors. Nurses completed the CMAI at baseline, post-intervention, a 3-month followup, and a 6-month follow-up.…”