Assessment and Management of Disruptive Behaviors in Persons with Dementia
The progressions of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias commonly result in the emergence of behavioral disturbances that benefit from a thorough assessment. A detailed description of the behavior includes temporal onset, course, precipitating and ameliorating factors, associated symptoms, along with some quantification of the level of disruption. The differential diagnosis considers a range of contributors that are adequately addressed prior to attributing the behavior to a manifestation of the dementia itself. Thereafter, a comprehensive care plan is developed that balances the degree of disruption and management approach that generally begins with a caregiver focus and non-pharmacologic strategies. Disruptive behaviors that put the person with dementia or their caregiver at imminent risk of harm or those refractory to initial efforts benefit from a consideration of pharmacologic management. After this educational session, participants will be able to better identify and apply evidence-based practices for disruptive dementia related behaviors.
Following learning facilitation of the occurrence and impact of dementia-related behaviors, participants will self-report:
- The ability to construct a systematic evaluation for behavioral changes in persons with dementia and
- Develop a comprehensive care plan that incorporates caregiver education and non-pharmacologic interventions followed by pharmacologic management for disruptive behaviors for future practice application.
Learners will self-reflect on:
- The patient populations impacted by persons living with dementia to best determine how cultural and linguistic factors should be addressed in care and
- How disparities in care affect persons living with dementia, and the role implicit bias plays in these disparities.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this activity the learner should be better able to:
- Construct a systematic evaluation for behavioral changes in persons with dementia and
- Develop a comprehensive care plan that incorporates caregiver education and non-pharmacologic interventions followed by pharmacologic management for disruptive behaviors for future practice application.
Disclosures
AAHPM endorses the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) Standards for disclosure and commercial support and endeavors to ensure balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor for all accredited products or programs. All who are in a position to control or influence the content of an educational activity must disclose any relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.*Disclosure documents were reviewed for potential conflicts of interest and, if identified, were resolved prior to confirmation of participation. Only those who had no conflict of interest or who agreed to an identified resolution process prior to their participation were involved in this activity.
All editors, faculty and staff have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
*An ineligible company is defined as any entity producing, marketing, reselling, or distributing healthcare goods or services consumed by, or used on, patients.
Faculty
Joseph W. Shega MD
Content Editors
Joe Rotella, MD, MBA, FAAHPM, HMDC
Julie Tanner, BSN, RN-BC, CHPN
Julie Bruno, MSW, LCSW
Staff
Stephanie Adams
Julie Tanner, BSN, RN-BC, CHPN
Angie Tryfonopoulos
Continuing Medical Education (CME)
The American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) designates this Enduring material for a maximum of 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
CME credits expire January 31, 2025.
Maintenance of Certification (MOC)
Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 1.25 Medical Knowledge MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine's (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.
ABIM MOC points expire on January 31, 2025.
Physicians certified with the American Board of Internal Medicine who wish to earn MOC points within the current calendar year must submit their MOC data no later than December 31 of the calendar year.
Available Credit
- 1.25 ABIM MOC
- 1.25 CME (physician only)
- 1.25 Participation