Tijdschrift voor gerontologie en geriatrie
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Tijdschr Gerontol Geriatr · Mar 2006
[Prevalence of behavioural problems in a group of demented nursing home patients].
Behavioural problems in dementia are a burden for patients and caregivers and are often the main reason for admission to a nursing home. Research on the prevalence of behavioural problems is scarce. In this study the prevalence of behavioural problems was estimated in nursing home patients with dementia. ⋯ Delusions, hallucinations, depression and anxiety were present in 10-15% of the patients. Using the CMAI cursing/verbal aggression, restlessness, complaining, negativism, and mannerisms were prevalent in 30%-50% of the patients. Larger studies on the prevalence of problem behaviour and possibly influencing factors are necessary.
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Tijdschr Gerontol Geriatr · Dec 2005
Review Meta Analysis[A systematic review of multifactorial interventions for primary prevention of delirium in the elderly].
Delirium is a severe psychiatric syndrome that is highly prevalent in elderly patients in a general hospital. Primary prevention is important to prevent delirium. This article reviews recent developments with regard to multifactorial intervention trials for primary prevention of delirium. ⋯ In one study a reduction was found in duration and severity of duration only. One study showed no effect on delirium at all. Despite the methodological weaknesses of the studies, conclusions are that different kinds of non-pharmacological interventions can be effective in preventing delirium.
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Tijdschr Gerontol Geriatr · Sep 2005
Review[CBO guidelines to prevent accidental falls in the elderly: how can it be used in the institutionalized elderly?].
Fall incidents occur frequently in the community dwelling elderly and even more in the institutionalised elderly. Fall-related research data indicate positive effects of a multifactorial intervention targeted on prevention of falls and fall-related injuries. ⋯ The highlights for nursing homes are: all nursing home patients are at risk; perform a fall risk assessment to direct fall preventive activities; together with specific fall prevention for the patient general fall prevention for the institute has to be undertaken; a multifactorial approach is indicated. In nursing homes it is possible to perform such approach multidisciplinary.
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Tijdschr Gerontol Geriatr · Jul 2005
[Chronic pain in dementia and in disorders with a high risk for congnitive impairment].
Ageing increases the risk for the etiology of chronic pain and dementia. hence, the increase in the number of elderly people implies that the number of elderly with dementia suffering from chronic pain will increase as well. A key question relates to if and how patients with dementia perceive pain. the inadequateness of pain assessment, particularly in a more advanced stage, is also reflected in a decreased use of analgesics by elderly people with dementia. ⋯ In these disorders, pain is a prominent clinical symptom and to date it is not known whether the experience of pain will change in a stage in which patients become cognitively impaired. Finally, a number of instruments which are most appropriate to assess pain in communicative and non-communicative patients are discussed.
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Tijdschr Gerontol Geriatr · Apr 2004
[Three new observational scales for use in Dutch nursing homes: scales from the Resident Assessment Instrument for Activities of Daily Living, cognition and depression].
The reliability and validity of three MDS scales for ADL, cognition and depression are described. The scales consist of items of the Minimum Data Set of the Resident Assessment Instrument and are available just after an MDS assessment. Data collection took place in nine Dutch nursing homes (N = 227) and consisted of three MDS assessments within one month to determine reliability. ⋯ All three MDS scales appear reliable, especially the ADL-Hierarchy has very good psychometric properties (intra- and inter-rater Intra Class Correlation were 0.81 and 0.83, respectively). Convergent validity of the ADL-Hierarchy and the Cognitive Performance Scale is good, the Depression Rating Scale appears valid in residents with moderate cognitive disorders at the most, but the results are more difficult to interpret in residents with severe cognitive disorders. The MDS scales appear useful in clinical practice and for research purposes in the Dutch nursing homes.