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

Neville, Christine C. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4618-5496 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
Faculty/School / Institute/Centre:	Historic - Faculty of Sciences - Department of Nursing (Up to 30 Jun 2013)
Faculty/School / Institute/Centre:	Historic - Faculty of Sciences - Department of Nursing (Up to 30 Jun 2013)
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 (2008):	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 Objectives (2008):	C Society > 92 Health > 9204 Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) > 920401 Behaviour and Health
Identification Number or DOI:	https://doi.org/10.1017/S1041610205002553
URI:	http://eprints.usq.edu.au/id/eprint/1390

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