Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects
Access Control
Open Access
Embargo Period
5-7-2014
Degree Program
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Degree Track
Family Nurse Practioner
Year Degree Awarded
2014
Month Degree Awarded
May
Keywords
dementia, caregivers, behaviors, prevention, Progressively Lowered Stress Threshold
Advisor
Cynthia Jacelon
DNP Project Chair
Cynthia Jacelon
DNP Project Member Name
Joan Roche
DNP Project Outside Member Name
Jean Williams
Abstract
Abstract
Dementia is a disease that impacts millions of people worldwide. Amongst the complications of this disease are behaviors that affect not only the individual with dementia but also their caregivers. These behaviors can be challenging especially for formal caregivers and it is important that they are taught how to prevent them. Long-term care facilities are the perfect settings for this type of education. For this reason, an educational program, including a needs assessment, PowerPoint presentation, and on-site support, was brought to a locked, assisted-living unit of Jewish Geriatric Services in Longmeadow, Massachusetts. The educational program was inspired and supported by a specific nursing model: the Progressively Lowered Stress Threshold model. This model focuses on preventing behavioral symptoms of those with dementia and it was effective in increasing the amount of learning for participants while decreasing behaviors and caregiver reactions with clinical significance.
Keywords: dementia, caregivers, behaviors, prevention, Progressively Lowered Stress Threshold
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.