Behavioral consultation system for behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia(BPSD) in elderly care settings: Case study on protocol feasibility using a flowchart

• Published in: Journal of Japanese Society of Geriatric & Gerontological Behavioral Sciences Vol. 24; pp. 63 - 76
• Main Authors: ISHIKAWA, Ai, NOGUCHI, Dai, YAMANAKA, Katsuo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japanese Society of Geriatric & Gerontological Behavioral Sciences 2019
• Subjects: behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD; behavioral consultation; elderly care setting; pattern; flowchart
• ISSN: 1880-3474; 2434-0553
• DOI: 10.24777/jsbse.24.0_63

A behavioral consultation (BC) flowchart of BC protocols for behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in elderly care settings was developed by considering different patterns of the com-plete consultation. Then, we administered the BC to six BPSD cases using the protocol and examined its feasibility. The patterns of consultations included: (A) recommending referral to a more appropriate facili-ty such as a hospital, in the first general interview with the consultee, because an urgent problem was found; (B) conducting only an assessment in the baseline period; (C) developing an intervention plan from the functional assessment and assigning care workers to conduct the plan; (D) adjusting plans that do not fit the BPSD from the perspective of the integrity of staff members to the care plan, and assigning care workers to reconduct the plan. Feasibility of the protocol was examined based on the following points: (1) including or not including the BC patterns of the case in the protocol; (2) completing or not completing each consultee’s requests; and (3) the BPSD was improved or not improved. Results indicated that five of the six cases fitted the protocol patterns. However, one case did not match the protocol because the plan could not be adjusted at Stage D due to the need to reconsider the target behavior. Moreover, all the cases fulfilled the request of each consultee. BPSD decreased in cases where interventions were conducted. The above results confirmed the feasibility of the protocol except for one part of fitting to the protocol. It is suggested that a controlled trial with a large sample should be conducted in the future, after adding a new pattern to reconsider the target behavior.