Alternate
Techniques to Decrease Agitation
By
Kimberly A. Keegan, BS, TRD, ACC, Director
As
Activity Professionals our days are busy enough with
setting up, implementing programs, cleaning up, keeping
track of what each resident is doing, care plans and
progress notes, schedules and calendars, and more. We
are also faced with the challenges of persons coming
to our homes and facilities with more diverse medical
conditions. Those who are agitated can be the toughest.
How do we keep them all safe without chemical restraints?
In attempts to calm agitated residents Saint Joseph's
Manor in Trumbull, CT (a 297 bed nursing home) has instituted
a program where alternate techniques are tried before
other means such as medication. On each nursing unit
a cabinet is marked with a picture of a teapot and the
words "Try Me first". There are also busy
baskets loaded with supplies and equipment.
"Try Me First Cabinet"
In this cabinet are items such as herbal teas, a teapot,
lotion with lavender mixed in, a teddy bear, and relaxing
musical tapes. Lavender is put into the hand lotion
because it is credited with adding soothing and relaxing
qualities, and a nice fragrance for olfactory stimulation.
The teas also help to calm and soothe the agitated resident
by their warmth, herbs, and also their olfactory sensation.
The teddy bear is a non-threatening soft object to hold
and cuddle. Soft, calming music with a methodic beat
helps to decrease heart rate and an anxious/agitated
mood.
"Busy Basket"
Busy baskets can be made out of anything and filled
with just about anything. At Saint Joseph's Manor we
use laundry baskets. Some of the items placed in these
baskets include: coloring projects, puzzles, yarn, children's
clothes and towels, magazines, stuffed animals, reminisce
books, videotapes of animals, children and relaxing
scenery, cards, and religious audio cassette tapes.
These items listed were chosen because they represent
tasks or activities that are familiar to our resident
population. These projects can provide comfort, soothe,
or may just help by providing a diversion for our residents.
Whatever the case may be activities from the "busy
basket" or the "try me first" cabinet
are utilized by this facility in an attempt to calm
and redirect the resident who is agitated before medical
interventions are used.
What techniques and items do your facilities use? We
would love to hear about your ideas, experiences, and
success stories. Please forward your information to
Kimberly A. Keegan, Saint Joseph's Manor, 6448 Main
Street, Trumbull, CT 06611. NN
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