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Treatment of Dementia: Non-pharmacological Approaches

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Dementia Care

Abstract

Non-pharmacological interventions are commonly recognized as first line treatment in the management of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD); however, caregivers and health care professors face challenges in their consistent implementation. Categories of non-pharmacological interventions for the management of BPSD include: sensory stimulation, cognitive stimulation and training, emotion oriented interventions, physical activity and exercise, and behavioral training and education. This chapter will review common BPSD that may be responsive to non-pharmacological interventions, summarize the feasibility and efficacy of these interventions, and outline a step approach that can be used to assess and manage BPSD using non-pharmacological interventions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Maryland School of Nursing, 655 West Lombard Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA

    Elizabeth Galik PhD, CRNP

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  1. Elizabeth Galik PhD, CRNP
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Correspondence to Elizabeth Galik PhD, CRNP .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. William F. Connell School of Nursing, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA

    Marie Boltz

  2. Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, NEW YORK, Florida, USA

    James E. Galvin

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Galik, E. (2016). Treatment of Dementia: Non-pharmacological Approaches. In: Boltz, M., Galvin, J. (eds) Dementia Care. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-18377-0_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-18377-0_7

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