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Abstract
1 in 11 people aged 45 years and older experience subjective cognitive decline, with nearly a third identifying a decline in the ability to participate in social activities, work, or volunteering. There are twelve modifiable risk factors that can either increase or decrease an individual's possibility of developing Dementia. This can include excessive alcohol consumption, head injury, air pollution, lower education level, hypertension, hearing impairment, smoking, obesity, depression, physical inactivity, diabetes, and infrequent social contact. These modifiable risk factors may prevent or delay up to 40% of dementias. Furthermore, many risk factors cluster around inequalities, which occur particularly in Black, Asian, and minority ethic groups and in vulnerable populations. Of the individuals who develop dementia, they may experience behavioral and/or psychological symptoms, such as agitation, depression, apathy, aggression sleep changes, wandering, and psychosis. Therefore, pharmacological intervention has become the most used treatment for those with dementia, such as antidementia drugs, antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and benzodiazapines. The purpose of this literature review is to determine the non-pharmacological interventions that may help in the reduction of agitation among persons with dementia, thus attempting to highlight alternative treatments that may be more beneficial than pharmacological interventions. In addition, this review examines living options for individuals with dementia, as well as the types of dementia care that are offered at such places. This includes assisted living facilities, long term care facilities or nursing homes, continuing care retirement communities, as well as adult day care centers in the Richmond area. As a result, it was determined that there are several psychosocial and physical interventions that may offer more benefits in reducing agitation among persons with dementia. However, many of these interventions are not offered at many places of living, such as assisted living facilities or conintuing care retirement communities. Thus posing further challenges in providing the best care for persons with dementia.
Publication Date
2022
Subject Major(s)
Doctorate of Occupational Therapy
Disciplines
Geriatrics | Occupational Therapy
Faculty Advisor/Mentor
Annie Rhodes, PhD, Department of Gerontology
Faculty Advisor/Mentor
Faika Zanjani, PhD, Department of Gerontology