4: Find the Purpose
- Goal: learn how to figure out the consequences or purposes of problem behavior in persons with dementia
- Understand the common purposes of problem behavior
- Practice determining the purpose of behaviors via scenarios
Common Purposes of Problem Behavior in Demented Elderly
Reducing stimulation
- Does the behavior occur when there is lots of activity in the person’s environment (e.g., loud TV or music, people talking)?
- Does the behavior stop when the patient is moved to a quiet environment?
*If you answer “yes” to both of these questions, chances are the purpose of the behavioral challenge is to reduce stimulation.
Increasing stimulation
- Does the behavior occur when there is little going on in the person’s environment?
- Would the behavior continue if no one was around?
*If you answer “yes” to both of these questions, chances are that the purpose of the behavior is to increase stimulation.
Escaping from an unpleasant situation
- Does the behavior occur when you make a request (e.g., asking the patient to move to another location)?
- Does the person look upset right before or during the behavior?
*If you answer “yes” to both of these questions, chances are that the purpose of the behavior is to escape an unpleasant situation.
Getting attention from others
- Does the behavior occur when you stop paying attention to the patient?
- Do you or other staff end up spending more time with the person when and/or after the behavior occurs?
*If you answer “yes” to both of these questions, chances are that the purpose of the behavior is to get attention from others.
RIEG Record Form
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Reducing stimulation | Increasing stimulation | Escaping from an unpleasant situation | Getting attention from others |
Behavior 1 | |
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Behavior 2 | |
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Behavior 3 | |
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Behavior 4 | |
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Behavior 5 | |
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Exercise
Use the above form to record what is the purpose of each behavior
Click = to compare your choices to answers.
Yelling out loud “help, help” whenever the roommate plays music or turning TV on. = Increasing stimulation
Yelling out loud “help, help” after lunch when residents in a NF are back in their rooms for a nap/quiet time. = Reducing stimulation.
Running between room and nurse station multiples time during the day and knock things off the desk at nurse station each time. = Getting attention from others.
Hiding under the bed, every other day before shower time. = Escaping from an unpleasant situation.
Touching every staff when they walk by in a hall. = Getting attention from others.
Show Full Module TextCopyright © 2020 Kyle Ferguson, Ph.D.