Behavior Management in Long-Term Care

Assessing, addressing and managing the behaviors of patients in long-term care is a challenging task. Understanding the laws of your state can guide you in making decisions. Furthermore, staff members with experience are vital resources for behavior management strategies.

Assessing Behaviors

• Assessing the behaviors, including any triggers that precede those behaviors, is vital to initiating behavior management. Speaking with staff, family members and the patient as well as extended observation of the patient in their own environment is essential to evaluating patient behaviors.

Addressing Behaviors

• Include multiple members of your interdisciplinary team in your discussion of behaviors and strategy interventions, making sure to consider all options and combination of suggestions. Try the best suggestions and make changes quickly if your interventions are not effective until you have achieved optimal results.

Managing Behaviors

• Motivate and require your staff to follow through on your strategies for the long-term. Be willing to adjust your strategies as residents' behavior can change day to day. Remember, that most interventions provide the desired effect after one week of use and may no longer be needed to manage behaviors after that.