Responding to Challenging Situations

1. Responding to Challenging Situations Developed by the: University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and Wisconsin Department of Health Services

2. Learning Points • Recognize unmet needs of residents with dementia • Identify calming techniques to reduce stress • Apply person-centered approaches when responding to residents’ needs

3. Recognizing Unmet Needs • Index Card Activity: Think of a Challenging Situation • Reasons Behind the Behavior • Calming Techniques • Validation • Redirection

4. 10 Common Challenging Situations ADLs Mealtime Bathing Physical/Verbal Aggression Disruptive Vocalizations Anger & Agitation Families Sexual Responses Wandering Elopement

5. Person-Centered Approaches to Challenging Situations • Common Situations • Possible Unmet Needs • Person-Centered Approaches

6. Activity: Person-Centered Responses to Challenging Situations • Life Histories of 5 Residents • Examine a real-life example of a challenging situation • Identify the unmet needs expressed by the resident • Identify person-centered approaches the caregiver might use

7. Closing Activity: Index Card • Review your original statement • Can you identify the unmet need the resident was expressing? • Can you identify a person-centered approach to meeting that need?

8. Learning Points Review • Recognize unmet needs of residents with dementia • Identify calming techniques to reduce stress • Apply person-centered approaches when responding to residents’ needs