The impact of residential respite care on the behavior of older people

Neville, Christine C. and Byrne, Gerard J. A. (2006) The impact of residential respite care on the behavior of older people. International Psychogeriatrics, 18 (1). pp. 163-170. ISSN 1041-6102

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Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the impact of residential respite care on disruptive behavior displayed by older people, particularly those with dementia.
Methods: A quasi-experimental, repeated measures, single group design was employed. The participants were a consecutive series of 100 older people with a mean age of 81.8 years (range 66 – 96 years) who had been booked for a respite admission to one of several residential aged care facilities in a provincial Australian city. A diagnosis of dementia was reported for 29% of the sample. Disruptive behaviors were rated before and after the period of respite by home caregivers (N=100) and during the period of respite by nurses (N=25) using the Dementia Behavior Disturbance Scale (DBDS).
Results: Age, male gender and the presence of dementia were all significantly related to the frequency of reported disruptive behaviors. Residential respite care was associated with a significant reduction in the frequency of reported disruptive behaviors in older people (Wald statistic = 28.28, p < 0.0001). However, this improvement in behavior did not persist into the post-respite period. The deteriorating behavioral trajectory that was evident prior to respite care continued following the period of respite care.
Conclusions: Residential respite care was associated with a temporary diminution in the frequency of reported disruptive behaviors in older people. This finding should be reassuring both for those family carers considering placing a loved one in residential respite care and for those health workers considering whether to recommend such a course of action.

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Item Type:	Article (Commonwealth Reporting Category C)
Refereed:	Yes
Item Status:	Live Archive
Depositing User:	Dr Christine Neville
Faculty / Department / School:	Historic - Faculty of Sciences - Department of Nursing
Date Deposited:	11 Oct 2007 00:41
Last Modified:	02 Jul 2013 22:37
Uncontrolled Keywords:	aged; dementia; nursing home; behaviour; dementia behaviour disturbance scale; nursing research
Fields of Research :	11 Medical and Health Sciences > 1103 Clinical Sciences > 110308 Geriatrics and Gerontology 11 Medical and Health Sciences > 1110 Nursing > 111005 Mental Health Nursing 11 Medical and Health Sciences > 1110 Nursing > 111001 Aged Care Nursing
Socio-Economic Objective:	C Society > 92 Health > 9204 Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) > 920401 Behaviour and Health
Identification Number or DOI:	doi: 10.1017/S1041610205002553
URI:	http://eprints.usq.edu.au/id/eprint/1390

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