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Managing and Understanding Behavior Problems in Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders

A videotape training series for caregivers

Managing and Understanding Behavior Problems in Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders is a training program for caregivers responsible for day-to-day care or supervision of dementia patients. The program, a series of ten modules, offers video and written materials designed to:

  • provide background information about Alzheimer's disease and related disorders, including the current state of research, clinical evaluation and treatment;
  • teach caregivers skills to assess and modify behavior problems which interfere with proper care; and
  • identify and address the special needs of caregivers.

Together the video and written materials provide clear, step-by-step directions for observing problem behaviors and designing plans to change them. Modeled after behavioral techniques used successfully with other groups, materials teach caregivers to think about problems as happening in a sequence of ABC (Antecedents/ triggers; Behavior; and Consequences/results). Using this sequence, caregivers design a plan for change and learn how to deal with common troubling behaviors in dementia.

About the Video Modules

This DVD training program is geared toward institutional staff, such as nurses and aides, to families, and to in-home, paid, and non-paid caregivers responsible for the day-to-day care or supervision of patients.

Modules 1 and 2 provide an overview of common dementing illnesses, Alzheimer's disease and other conditions that mimic dementia, specifically delirium and depression, along with information on assessments.

Module 3 introduces the ABCs approach to managing behavior problems in patients with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. Using the ABCs method, participants learn to identify and modify (A) antecedents, and (C) consequences, thereby altering (B) behaviors.

Modules 4 through 9 address specific troubling behaviors common in patients with dementia. Using the ABCs model, case vignettes, instructions and explanations, viewers learn to modify these behaviors.

Module 10 provides an overview of issues faced by professional and family caregivers, addressing their special problems and concerns, with suggestions on how to cope with the difficult task of caring for patients with dementias.

Case vignettes, accompanied by instructions and explanations, teach viewers to think of behavior using the systematic A-B-C approach. This allows the caregiver to design an individual plan to solve a patient's particular problem.

drawing of a sad woman

Topics

DISC 1:

  1. Overview Part I: Alzheimer's Disease and Related Diseases
  2. Overview Part II: Delirium and Depression
  3. ABCs: An Introduction
  4. Managing Aggressive Behaviors: Anger and Irritation, Catastrophic Reactions
  5. Managing Psychotic Behaviors: Language Deficits

DISC 2:

  1. Managing Psychotic Behaviors: Hallucinations and Delusions, Paranoia and Suspiciousness
  2. Managing Personal Hygiene: Bathing and Dressing
  3. Managing Difficult Behaviors: Wandering and Inappropriate Sexual Behaviors
  4. Managing Difficult Behaviors: Depression
  5. Caregiver Issues

For information about the use of these tapes or training seminars, please contact Dr. Linda Teri, University of Washington, Box 358733, Seattle, WA 98195 or e-mail: lteri@u.washington.edu

This series, developed by Dr. Linda Teri and colleagues from the University of Washington Medical Center, was supported by a grant from the National Institutes on Aging to the University of Washington Alzheimer's Disease Research Center.

$100 -- Price includes 2 DVD set, manual, shipping and handling.

Ordering information (PDF file opens in a new window)


adrcweb@u.washington.edu
UW ADRC Director--Murray Raskind, M.D.
UW ADRC Education and Training Director--James Leverenz, M.D.
Last Modified: Friday, 11-Sep-2009 05:26:27 PDT