Abstract
There is a tendency to generalize or stereotype certain behaviors exhibited by the elderly. This study was conducted to determine the feasibility of using a structured, validated instrument to objectively assess aggression and irritability in nursing home residents. Results showed a majority of the residents (65 percent) scored below the cut-off point for irritability. Ninety-two percent scored below the cut-off point for aggression. The findings point to the value of using quantitative measures of aggression and irritability, particularly in communicating information. With a standardized tool such as the one used for this study, objective assessment could serve as an indicator of the severity of the problem. Implementing a system for quantifying observations may be a beginning step in allowing caregivers to focus on the residents' actions or responses to prevent generalizations or stereotypes.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.