Using clinical simulations in geriatric nursing continuing education.

Accompanying an increased number of older adults in the population is the need for knowledgeable and clinically competent nurses to provide care for this group, especially those experiencing sudden changes in health status. A continuing education program was designed to improve geriatric nursing competencies through the use of clinical simulations. Three-day nurse educator institutes and one-day workshops for registered and licensed practical nurses were offered to 312 nurses.

Knowing the resident with dementia: perspectives of assisted living facility caregivers.

This qualitative study describes the kinds of knowledge used by caregivers when caring for older adults with dementia residing in assisted living facilities. Five focus groups were conducted with a total of 23 caregivers from both small and large facilities. Two categories of knowledge were described: behavior-centered knowledge and person-centered knowledge.

Assisting cognitively impaired nursing home residents with bathing: effects of two bathing interventions on caregiving.

Purpose: When cognitively impaired nursing home residents exhibit agitated and aggressive behaviors during bathing, nursing home caregivers are in a unique position to improve residents' experience. This report addresses whether certified nursing assistants (CNAs) who received training in a person-centered approach with showering and with the towel bath showed improved caregiving behaviors (gentleness and verbal support) and experienced greater preparedness (confidence and ease) and less distress (hassles) when assisting residents with bathing.

Design And Methods: We used a crossover design and randomized 15 nursing homes into two treatment groups and a control group of 5 facilities each.

Effect of person-centered showering and the towel bath on bathing-associated aggression, agitation, and discomfort in nursing home residents with dementia: a randomized, controlled trial.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of two nonpharmacological techniques in reducing agitation, aggression, and discomfort in nursing home residents with dementia. The techniques evaluated were person-centered showering and the towel bath (a person-centered, in-bed bag-bath with no-rinse soap).

Design: A randomized, controlled trial, with a usual-care control group and two experimental groups, with crossover.

Effects of behavioral interventions on disruptive behavior and affect in demented nursing home residents.

Background: Disruptive behaviors are prevalent in nursing home residents with dementia and often have negative consequences for the resident, caregiver, and others in the environment. Behavioral interventions might ameliorate them and have a positive effect on residents' mood (affect).

Objectives: This study tested two interventions-an activities of daily living and a psychosocial activity intervention-and a combination of the two to determine their efficacy in reducing disruptive behaviors and improving affect in nursing home residents with dementia.