Improving the Management of Patients with Severe Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia in Hospital

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Hospitals and Dementia

Hospitals are known to be challenging places for people with dementia. There are numerous physiological and psychosocial factors associated with being acutely unwell that can negatively affect dementia symptoms, particularly when combined with being in an unfamiliar (and often unsuitable) physical and social environment.

These new or changing symptoms are often difficult to manage, can cause significant distress to family members, staff and other patients and can result in increased morbidity and mortality.

Project background

In 2019, the Victorian Sub-acute Executive Peak Body raised concerns regarding whether Victorian health services have the capacity and capability to meet the needs of a growing number, and increased severity, of older people with dementia in hospitals.

The Victorian Department of Health (DH) commissioned NARI to undertake a comprehensive review of the prevalence, impact and management of patients with dementia in hospitals. Of particular interest were behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), a range of neuropsychiatric disturbances which are often initiated and/or exacerbated by hospital environments.

Project AIms

The Improving the Management of Severe BPSD in Victorian Hospitals project aimed to:

Establish an agreed definition of severe BPSD
Identify national and international best practice principles and models of care regarding hospital management of severe BPSD
Determine the prevalence and impact of severe BPSD within Victorian hospitals
Examine the local approaches and actions currently in place in Victorian hospitals to manage severe BPSD
Explore staff experience regarding the management of severe BPSD in Victorian hospital

An image depicting an overall project summary for the BPSD in Hospitals project

INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL BEST PRACTICE PRINCIPLES AND MODELS OF CARE REGARDING THE HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT OF SEVERE BPSD

BPSD Rapid Literature Review Online Report:

BPSD Rapid Literature Review Online Report PDF
BPSD Rapid Literature Review Summary:

BPSD Rapid Literature Review Summary PDF

PREVALENCE OF BPSD IN VICTORIAN HOSPITALS

BPSD Population Prevalence Online Report:

BPSD Population Prevalence Online Report PDF

BPSD Point Prevalence Full Online Report:

BPSD Point Prevalence Full Online Report PDF

Prevalence of Dementia and BPSD Summary:

Prevalence of Dementia and BPSD Summary PDF

IMPACT OF BPSD IN VICTORIAN HOSPITALS

BPSD Impact Online Report:

BPSD Impact Online Report PDF

Impact of Dementia and BPSD Summary:

Impact of Dementia and BPSD Summary PDF

MANAGEMENT OF BPSD IN VICTORIAN HOSPITALS

BPSD Models of Care Online Report:

BPSD Models of Care Online Report PDF

Management of BPSD Summary:

Management of BPSD Summary PDF

Pharmacological Management

Non-Pharmacological Management

Minimising Risk

Education and Training

Organisational Approaches

Workforce Profiles

References

Munro D. Caring for People with Dementia in Victorian Hospital Benchmarking Data Report. 2020

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