Digital Commons Network^™

Impact Of Montessori-Based Dementia Programming On Engagement And Affect Of Older Adults With Dementia, Meredith S. Sheppard

Master's Projects and Capstones

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted the Adult Day Services program and Adult Day programs across the country. As the Adult Day Services program transitions to an in-person format, goals within the organization include developing appropriate programming, increasing group size, and keeping clients entertained. The framework guiding this quality improvement project is Montessori-Based Dementia Programming ® (MBDP). This project aims to increase client engagement, decrease client anxiety, and decrease staff workload. This will be measured by a self-developed staff workload survey, the Menorah-Park Engagement, and the Affect rating scale. Implementation of MBDP at the Adult Day Center did not meet …

Improving Nursing Staff Knowledge For Management Of Geriatric Patients With Confusion In The Emergency Department, Kareem G. Carter

Master's Projects and Capstones

Problem: Staff knowledge of effective management of confusion in geriatric patients (>65yo) may be limited and inconsistent with the current goal of establishing a geriatric-friendly Emergency Department (ED) Model of Care. Suboptimal management of this patient population can result in prolonged ED stays, which increases the cost to the hospital and the patient (Han & Wilber, 2013).

Context: An Emergency Department at a large Bay Area urban hospital hopes to obtain Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation (GEDA) through the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP).

Interventions: Create a simplified checklist for nursing staff using mnemonic devices to …

A Toolkit For Administration Of Antipsychotic Medications In Nursing Homes, Nino Dantes Flores

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Psychotropic medications should be used with extreme caution in older adults residing in long- term care facilities. Delirium and altered mental status are associated with multiple complex underlying medical conditions and can be difficult to recognize, particularly among the elderly residing in long-term care facilities. The use of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Antipsychotic Toolkit allows for ethical and evidence- based care of the elderly within the regulations and best practice for use of antipsychotics. This Doctor of Nursing Practice quality improvement project is designed to provide a toolkit for practitioners of behavioral modification …

The Impact Of Depressive Symptoms On Cognitive Decline And Risk For Dementia, Katheryn Conde

Doctoral Dissertations

As of 2011, the life expectancy for Latinos in the U.S. was 81.6 years, which is higher compared to non-Hispanic Blacks (75.3 years), non-Hispanic Whites (79 years), and Hispanic Black populations (74.9 years; Arias, 2011; Arias, 2015). Latinos have higher age specific prevalence of dementia, which is higher than African Americans and non-Hispanic Whites (Gurland et al.,1999). Latinos experience Alzheimers disease symptoms 6.8 years earlier, with the average onset of 67.6 years which is younger than non-Hispanic Whites (73.1 years; Clark et al., 2005). Furthermore, older Latinos tend to experience depression at a rate of 13% and 35% with the …

Improving Care Of Assisted Living Residents With Dementia Through A Competency-Based Behavioral Training Curriculum For Assisted Living Caregivers, Mary Ann Z. De Vera

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are common among residents of assisted living facilities. Inadequately managed symptoms of BPSD can lead to problematic behaviors with significant consequences for patients and caregivers. Non-pharmacologic approaches to the management of problematic behaviors in individuals with dementia are the preferred management option. Caregiver training and education to enhance knowledge and skills in managing behavioral and psychological symptoms for assisted living caregivers is indicated to provide optimum care for patients with dementia. The purpose of this doctor of nursing practice (DNP) project was to develop and implement a caregiver-training workshop utilizing a competency-based behavioral …