Effective treatment(s) involve trial and error along with ongoing re-assessments
A proper and comprehensive assessment will reveal the nature of the behaviours being displayed by an individual with dementia. Effective treatment(s) involve trial and error along with ongoing re-assessments in order to tailor specific intervention(s) to an individual’s needs.
A non-pharmacological approach is the preferred course of action, however if there is an immediate need due to violent or aggressive behaviour, then medication may be considered as an immediate first step.
Extensive studies have been conducted to try to understand which interventions are the most effective in treating behavioural and psychological symptoms associated with dementia.
The research shows that each individual has unique reasons for the behaviours they display, so there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to treatment.