Organizational characteristics of highly specialized units for people with dementia and severe challenging behavior.

Background: People with dementia and severe challenging behavior in the Netherlands can be temporarily admitted to highly specialized units when their behavior is not manageable in regular dementia special care units (DSCUs). With scarce evidence available for the treatment of these patients, treatment in these units is in a pioneering phase. To gain more insight into these units, this study investigated organizational characteristics, i.

Well-being, multidisciplinary work and a skillful team: essential elements of successful treatment in severe challenging behavior in dementia.

Objective: Conceptualize successful treatment of persons with dementia and severe challenging behavior as perceived by professionals.

Methods: In this concept mapping study 82 experts in dementia care participated. The study followed two phases of data collection: (1) an online brainstorm where participants completed the focus prompt: '; (2) individual sorting and rating of the collected statements followed by data analysis using multidimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analysis, resulting in a concept map.