American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias®

 

Advanced Search

Journal Navigation

Journal Home

Subscriptions

Archive

Contact Us

Table of Contents

Click here to register today!

Click here for more information

Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools.
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow References
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to Saved Citations
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowReprints and Permissions
Right arrow Add to My Marked Citations
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Detweiler, M. B.
Right arrow Articles by Kim, K. Y.
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Detweiler, M. B.
Right arrow Articles by Kim, K. Y.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us   Add to Digg   Add to Reddit   Add to Technorati  
What's this?
American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias®, Vol. 23, No. 1, 31-45 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/1533317507309799
© 2008 SAGE Publications

Does a Wander Garden Influence Inappropriate Behaviors in Dementia Residents?

Mark B. Detweiler, MD, MS

Psychiatry Service, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salem, Department of Neuropsychiatry, Behavioral Science, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, Blacksburg, Virginia, Mark.Detweiler1{at}med.va.gov

Pamela F. Murphy, MBA

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia

Laura C. Myers, MT, BC

Catawba Hospital, Catawba; Virginia

Kye Y. Kim, MD

Psychiatry Service, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salem, Department of Neuropsychiatry, Behavioral Science, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, Blacksburg, Virginia

Background: The effect on resident behaviors of adding a wander garden to an existing dementia facility was investigated. Methods: 34 male residents were observed for 12 months before and after opening the garden. Behaviors were assessed using the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory Short Form (CMAI), incident reports, as needed medications (pro re nata [PRN]), and surveys of staff and residents' family members as indices of affect. Results: Final CMAI scores and total PRNs employed were lower than baseline values with a trend for residents who used the garden more often to have less agitated behavior. Verbal inappropriate behaviors did not change significantly whereas physical incidents increased. Staff and family members felt that the wander garden decreased inappropriate behaviors and improved mood and quality of life of the dementia residents. Conclusions: Study design characteristics and garden management may have affected behaviors both positively and negatively. Additional studies are needed to explore the benefits of wander gardens for dementia residents.

Key Words: dementia • agitation • inappropriate behaviors • medications • wander garden


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to Technorati Technorati    What's this?