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Behavioral characteristics of agitated nursing home residents with dementia at the end of life
- Authors:
- ALLEN Rebecca S., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 45(5), October 2005, pp.661-666.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
This study examined group differences in verbal agitation, verbal interaction, bed restraint, pain, analgesic and neuroleptic medication use, and medical comorbidity among agitated nursing home residents who died during a 6-month clinical trial compared with residents of the same gender and similar initial cognitive status who did not die during the trial. A two-group secondary data analysis of prospective observational data from 10 nursing homes in Birmingham, Alabama was conducted. The results found that residents who died displayed more verbal agitation, less time in verbal interaction with staff, and almost twice as much time restrained in bed during observation time in comparison with residents who did not die during the clinical trial. However, groups did not differ significantly in severity of comorbid illness, functional status, number of painful diagnoses, certified nursing assistants' reports of residents' pain, or opioid or nonopioid analgesic prescription or dosage. Surviving residents were more likely to receive neuroleptic medication than residents who died. The results suggest that agitated nursing home residents may exhibit a heightened level of verbal agitation, decreased verbal interaction with staff, and increased bed restraint up to 3 months prior to death. Prospective observational studies are needed to identify markers for imminent mortality among nursing home residents.