G. Special Issues for Long-Term Care

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G. Special Issues for Long-Term Care

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Care should be organized to meet the needs of patients, including those with behavioral problems.
Appropriate use of medications can relieve psychiatric symptoms and reduce distress and increase safety for patients, other residents, and staff.

Physical restraints are rarely indicated and should be used only for patients who pose an imminent risk of physical harm to themselves or others.

Care should be organized to meet the needs of patients, including those with behavioral problems.

Employing staff with knowledge and experience about dementia and the management of difficult behavior is important.
Limited evidence suggests that special care units may offer more optimal care than traditional units.

Appropriate use of medications can relieve psychiatric symptoms and reduce distress and increase safety for patients, other residents, and staff.

As already described, it is important to consider the risk of side effects, periodically reevaluate the use of antipsychotics and consider alternatives, and appropriately document decision making.
A structured education program for staff may help to both manage patients' behavior and decrease the use of antipsychotic medications.

Physical restraints are rarely indicated and should be used only for patients who pose an imminent risk of physical harm to themselves or others.

Reasons for the use of physical restraints should be carefully documented.
The need for restraints can be decreased by environmental changes that decrease the risk of falls or wandering and by careful assessment and treatment of possible causes of agitation.

NOTE:
Citing articles are presented as examples only. In non-demo SCM6 implementation, integration with CrossRef’s “Cited By” API will populate this tab (http://www.crossref.org/citedby.html).

Compression-Only CPR: Pushing the Science Forward
Cone
AAM 2010;304:1493-1495.

All you need to read in the other general journals
BMJ 2010;341:c5893-c1494.

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G. Special Issues for Long-Term Care

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Care should be organized to meet the needs of patients, including those with behavioral problems.

Appropriate use of medications can relieve psychiatric symptoms and reduce distress and increase safety for patients, other residents, and staff.

Physical restraints are rarely indicated and should be used only for patients who pose an imminent risk of physical harm to themselves or others.