Managing the Symptoms of Dementia

Overview

This course teaches nurses to effectively manage behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) using an evidence-based approach. Readers will learn specific interventions for BPSD that are caused by patient, caregiver, and environment-related factors. This course reviews important medications but stresses the importance of a non- pharmacologic approach, and it also addresses the use of restraint in patients with dementia with a focus on safety and patient rights.

Learning Objectives

After completing this course, the reader will be able to:

1. Implement strategies to proactively address behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD).
2. Identify at least three behavioral or psychological symptoms of dementia.
3. Explain the four steps of the DICE approach.
4. Distinguish between patient, caregiver, and environment-related factors that contribute to patients' BPSD.
5. Explain why non-pharmacologic interventions are preferable to pharmacologic interventions in the management of BPSD.
6. Describe the dangers of restraint use in patients with dementia.
7. Select appropriate interventions for a patient's BPSD using the DICE approach.