2016 Volume 33 Issue 2 Pages 250-254
Incidence of dementia and the proportion of hospitalized elderly individuals with dementia have been increasing as the population ages. Elderly individuals with dementia are more prone to falls as their psychological and bodily functioning is affected by neurological impairments associated with dementia. Nurses can prevent such falls by identifying high–risk situations. Thus, it is necessary to identify risks associated with the main behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). Furthermore, elderly individuals with dementia tend to have extreme responses to BPSD and often fall because they have to perform activities of daily living without assistance. It is important that nurses consider elderly individuals' perspective when providing care. Therefore, a multi–faceted intervention that requires the active involvement of an interdisciplinary team comprising nurses, caregivers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and physicians may effectively prevent falls among elderly individuals with dementia.
