Non-pharmacological interventions in care homes, with particular emphasis on the treatment of people with dementia

Abstract

In the UK there are over 22,000 care homes, largely run by the private and charitable sectors, caring for 416,000 people. The residents in care homes present with a range of needs linked to physical health, cognitive health, and mental health. A large proportion of residents in care homes have dementia and many of them exhibit Behaviours that Challenge (BtC). This chapter focuses on the non-pharmacological interventions available in care homes to help treat BtC that occur in the context of dementia. It discusses preventative interventions designed to promote the wellbeing of people with dementia, and reviews the evidence. Formulation-led interventions identify the needs of the individual and lead to the development of person-centred care plans and the evidence strongly supports that these are needed to deliver effective psychosocial interventions in care homes. Finally, the chapter discusses the implications for future research.