RESEARCH

Improving the management of severe BPSD in hospital

The Victorian Department of Health commissioned NARI to review the prevalence, impact and management of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in hospitals.

TYPE

Report

TOPIC

Dementia

COMMISSIONED BY

Victorian Department of Health

Hospitals and Dementia

Hospitals are known to be challenging places for people with dementia. There are numerous physiological and psychosocial factors associated with being acutely unwell that can negatively affect dementia symptoms, particularly when combined with being in an unfamiliar (and often unsuitable) physical and social environment.

These new or changing symptoms are often difficult to manage, can cause significant distress to family members, staff and other patients and can result in increased morbidity and mortality.

Project background

In 2019, the Victorian Sub-acute Executive Peak Body raised concerns regarding whether Victorian health services have the capacity and capability to meet the needs of a growing number, and increased severity, of older people with dementia in hospitals.

The Victorian Department of Health (DH) commissioned NARI to undertake a comprehensive review of the prevalence, impact and management of patients with dementia in hospitals. Of particular interest were behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), a range of neuropsychiatric disturbances which are often initiated and/or exacerbated by hospital environments.

Project AIms

The Improving the Management of Severe BPSD in Victorian Hospitals project aimed to:

Establish an agreed definition of severe BPSD
Identify national and international best practice principles and models of care regarding hospital management of severe BPSD
Determine the prevalence and impact of severe BPSD within Victorian hospitals
Examine the local approaches and actions currently in place in Victorian hospitals to manage severe BPSD
Explore staff experience regarding the management of severe BPSD in Victorian hospital

The rate of dementia rises quickly with age. Given Australia’s ageing population, the number of older people diagnosed with dementia is a significant and growing issue for health and aged care services