Open Access
Understanding and managing behaviours in a time of pandemic
This resource outlines clear guidance on how to respond when a person is displaying changed behaviours, if you suspect a person in your care has a COVID-19 infection, and how to minimise transmission. It covers general advice on what to look for as a common cause of a changed behaviour, alternatives to the use of physical and chemical restraints, and the role that the GP can provide.
The need to keep everyone safe and supported is challenging for residential care services during the COVID-19 restrictions. HammondCare Dementia Support is here to support people with dementia where behaviours and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are impacting their care. This is especially important during this time.
HammondCare Dementia Support tips
- Where possible i.e. in the absence of a confirmed case of COVID-19 within your service, BPSD care plans and important routines should be maintained.
- If a resident is displaying changed behaviours and is suspected of having an active COVID-19 infection, your normal infection control procedures should continue to be followed. In this situation, certain types of behaviours, such as aggression and ‘wandering’, may pose greater risks for the resident, other residents, staff and visitors.
- The first question that should be asked is ‘does this particular behaviour place anyone at increased risk of infection’. If the answer is ‘no,’ then there is no reason, in terms of managing infection risk, to restrain a person in any way.
General advice about supporting where behaviours impact on care
- Look out for common issues – HammondCare Dementia Support has found that in many instances of altered behaviour there have been clear causes or events that have led to the changes in behaviour. A common cause is the presence of pain, and/or delirium.
- A delirium screen should always be performed. This should comprise a check of physical observations (pulse, blood pressure and temperature), a physical examination by the person’s usual doctor including full blood evaluation, urea and electrolytes, liver function tests, mid-stream urine culture, and other investigations the doctor may feel to be relevant.
- Provide opportunities to access outdoor areas at specific times. Residents may try to gain access to outdoors on a more regular basis especially when other activities and visitors are restricted, or excursions cancelled.
Chemical and physical restraint
- HammondCare Dementia Support does not recommend the use of chemical restraint for people living with dementia. COVID-19 is primarily a respiratory disease, and the use of medications that might cause respiratory depression or render a person immobile is likely to lead to an adverse outcome for that resident.
- The use of physical restraint is generally not recommended, for the same reasons. Remember, however, that physical restraint can take many forms.
- If there is a concern that a resident, who is unable to voluntarily isolate themselves, may be infected with COVID-19, then the use of a 1:1 ‘special’ is advised.
- If the use of a 1:1 is not possible, the next step may be to enforce isolation within the person’s own room. Before considering this:
- have you sought help from HammondCare Dementia Support or another service who may be able to provide alternative recommendations
- review your approaches to ensuring staff will be aware of the action you are undertaking should there be an emergency
- that you have sought consent from the family and/or person responsible before taking this step
- It is very rare for a behaviour to be present throughout the 24-hour day. If there are times when the behaviour is not present (e.g. the resident is asleep) there is no need to maintain the restrictive practice.
- The use of other devices to enforce immobility, particularly when they are applied to a person with a potentially serious respiratory infection, will lead to adverse outcomes for that person. Before undertaking this ensure you contact DS UK or a similar service for additional support and recommendations.
- Enforced immobility should only be considered as a last resort and in line with guidelines and specific protocol for use (consent, other options exhausted, monitor and review regularly).
