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Objective assessment of aggression and irritability in the elderly

There is a tendency to generalize or stereotype certain behaviors exhibited by the elderly. This study was conducted to determine the feasibility of using a structured, validated instrument to objectively assess aggression and irritability in nursing home residents. Results showed a majority of the residents (65 percent) scored below the cut-off point for irritability. Ninety-two percent scored below the cut-off point for aggression. The findings point to the value of using quantitative measures of aggression and irritability, particularly in communicating information. With a standardized tool such as the one used for this study, objective assessment could serve as an indicator of the severity of the problem. Implementing a system for quantifying observations may be a beginning step in allowing caregivers to focus on the residents' actions or responses to prevent generalizations or stereotypes.

American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias®, Vol. 7, No. 4, 33-37 (1992)
DOI: 10.1177/153331759200700406


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