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Older Adults
We are all going to get old one day, it is an unavoidable process. With age many people will develop behavioural difficulties alongside their physiological difficulties. Furthermore cognitive decline and its associated confusion can be a terrifying experience. We endorse the approaches of the late Professor Tom Kitwood who argued that services should attempt to understand an older adult from their unique and individual perspective. An essential aim of our approach is to encourage staff to support the person and manage their behaviour in a dignified way. Although it may sound like a 'cliché' most of us will become customers of elderly care services one day. If we ask the question 'how would I like to be treated' the answer will usually involve good behaviour management approaches.
Our support for services working with challenging older adults takes into consideration the support needs of people who are seen as increasingly vulnerable with possibly deteriorating physical and mental faculties.
The various elements of support available are :
- Assessments for individuals affected (including psychological, cognitive, psychiatric and vulnerability aspects)
- One to one work and counselling with individuals and within group settings
- Care plans, interventions and therapies together with monitoring and evaluation of effectiveness
- Follow up reports and ongoing assessments
- Liaison with outside agencies and professionals
- Staff support and training to help empower carers to make assessments, enhance their counselling skills, monitor and improve the effectiveness of care plans themselves
- One to one or group work with staff members to assist them in coping with their work pressures
Please click here to read a case study of the work Studio III does in the area of Older Adults
Contact us on 01225-334111 to arrange a confidential discussion with one of our specialists or use our contact us page
Peter was a 79 year old man who lived on his own in a two bedroom house. In the last 5 years Peter started to signs of cognitive decline, his short term memory was particularly poor. He had difficulties with his right hip and required the use of a walking frame to move around his house. There were times when he appeared very confused and this was often when he became aggressive towards people.
Peter had a team of staff who provided practical support in his home on a regular basis. The local agency found it difficult to get staff to work with as he was abusive and threatening, especially to black workers. After a number of aggressive incidents Studio III Clinical Services was approached to provide assessment and advice. Interviews and assessments with Peter, agency staff and the professionals involved showed that triggers for aggressive behaviours included being supported by unpreferred staff, confusion due to memory loss as well as direct demands on Peter such as a request to wash his dishes. It was also found that staff were in need of support to cope with Peter’s behaviour.
Following the recommendations by Studio III Peter was provided with preferred support staff and strategies were put in place to support him when he became confused due to memory loss, such as staff distracting him with preferred activities or reminding him of times in his distant past which he could remember well and which lowered his anxieties. Demands such as dish washing were reduced to avoid confrontation. Staff were provided with Studio III Low Arousal training as well as regular feedback sessions.
The case was followed up after one year. Staff reported that Peter had had no major incidents of actual physical assault for the entire year. Staff never had to use restraints with him. Staff also reported that they felt confident in managing his behaviours. Three years later Peter died at home of natural causes. He had spent the last three years of his life in his own familiar environment with fewer overt signs of agitation and distress and with staff who were comfortable and confident working with him.
