Abstract
Purpose: To describe caregiver challenges with and confidence managing three aggressive behavior types in persons with dementia: verbal aggression, destroying property, and threatening to hurt others. Design and Method: Secondary analysis of baseline data from the 2001-2004 Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer’s Caregiver Health II (REACH II) initiative. Results: One or more aggressive behaviors within 1 week were reported by more than a third of caregivers, with most expressing upset but fewer expressing confidence managing the behaviors. Caregiver distress and confidence differed by race/ethnicity in response to verbal aggression, with more White/Caucasian caregivers expressing upset than Hispanic/Latinos or Black/African Americans. Fewer Hispanic/Latinos expressed confidence managing verbal aggression, compared with White/Caucasians or Black/African Americans. Discussion: Aggressive behaviors challenge caregivers, with reactions varying by behavior type and race/ethnicity. Cultural and contextual factors suggest the need to tailor interventions, especially skill-building interventions that increase confidence managing aggressive behaviors while decreasing upset.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 50-61 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Journal of Applied Gerontology |
Volume | 39 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 1 2020 |
Keywords
- aggressive behavior
- behavioral symptoms
- caregiving
- dementia
- health disparity
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Gerontology
- Geriatrics and Gerontology