Working with people with dementia
Dementia results from damage to the brain, which can decrease a person's physical and cognitive abilities. People with dementia may not be able to verbally communicate needs, so they may express those needs through behaviours. Some of these behaviours may put caregivers at risk of injury.
The risks
Causes of responsive behaviour can include:
- Feelings of frustration
- Becoming overwhelmed by an overly stimulating environment
- Having basic needs unmet (e.g., thirst, hunger, pain, incontinence)
- Changes in environment or care staff
- Poor sleep cycle
Reducing the risks
Ways to prevent aggressive response behaviour can include:
- Care planning that takes into account a person's history and preferences
- Care that is flexible to meet the needs of the person in that moment
- Being focused on the needs of the person, not the care being provided
- Reporting care approaches that work, as well as ones that didn't
Resources
Working With Dementia: Safe Work Practices for Caregivers Video Discussion Guide
This video discussion guide contains viewing strategies that will help viewers learn more about different techniques to care for people with dementia. This guide includes suggested discussion points...
Dementia: Understanding Risks and Preventing Violence
This web book provides a brief overview of dementia and the common causes of aggressive response behaviour, along with suggested interventions. The purpose is to provide some understanding of how clinical...
Two-Person Care Needs a Planned Approach
Health care workers sometimes find themselves in situations where their plans for providing care don't achieve the intended results. A "two is better than one" solution to the situation won't work if workers...
Dementia: Understanding Risks and Preventing Violence
This book provides information on how clinical care approaches and interventions can prevent or minimize the risk of worker injury when caring for people with dementia....
Highlights
- New online tool helps workers and employers manage risk by delivering a custom list of health and safety resources Published on: December 05, 2022
- New resources help you manage risks in your workplace Published on: April 14, 2022