Experience of a care pathway for psychological and behavioral symptoms of dementia

Abstract

Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are present in more than eighty percent of patients, resulting in a significant decrease of quality of life of patients and caregivers. To provide the most appropriate and early response to behavioral disorders, a specific care pathway, unique in France, has been created within the Memory Center at the Hospices Civils of Lyon. It includes a consultation "Behavior" aimed to intervention and guidance, a Cognitive-Behavioral Unit for pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions in a comprehensive care of the patient during 3 to 4 weeks, and an Alzheimer's disease mobile team, which can assess the BPSD in the patient's living environment at home or in nursing homes, appraise drug treatments and environment, and give training for caregivers. This care pathway is aimed to provide individualized and early care for behavioral crises secondary prevention, taking into account the psychological, neuropsychological and somatic context of the behavioral disorders occurrence.