Alzheimer's Care

Alzheimer's Abuse

Order# AD232
Presented by Peter V. Rabins, MD, MPH

interactive discussion
21 minutes
$150 purchase; $75 rental

This training DVD addresses the urgent need for nursing staff to recognize and prevent Alzheimer's abuse in institutional environments. Dr. Peter Rabins and geriatric nursing assistants identify the signs of potential abuse for Alzheimer's patients. These include: agitation, catastrophic reactions, withdrawn behaviors, and emotional distress which may be manifested in crying, or changes in sleeping/eating patterns. Alzheimer’s patients are often unable to verbalize their wants and needs to staff or family members, and this program re-enforces the need for nursing assistants to recognize and minimize abusive situations.

This program also addresses neglect, which is one of the most frequent forms of abuse seen with Alzheimer’s patients. Unable to advocate for themselves, patients may often be left in their rooms for long periods of time, or not changed or cleaned as frequently as other patients. Also discussed is the assessment and response to pain, another area which is far more difficult with Alzheimer’s patients. Nursing assistants remind viewers that to leave a person in pain, even a demented person, is abuse.

Cognitive and behavioral problems associated with Alzheimer’s such as loss of memory, delusional ideas, or resistance to care can easily result in untrained staff responding in anger or frustration. These behaviors may trigger staff to verbally or physically abuse the person. The experienced staff in this video talk about the importance of accepting a patient's reality to nurture emotional well-being and prevent agitation and catastrophic reactions.

This program also describes: vulnerability of Alzheimer’s patients; abuse situations frequently observed with Alzheimer’s patients; symptoms of abuse; and strategies to prevent abuse.

Topics: neglect, elder abuse, agitation, catastrophic reactions, recognizing pain
Audience: Staff working in long-term care, assisted living and day care

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