Dealing with aggressive behaviour in nursing homes: caregivers' use of recommended measures

Aims and objectives. To identify groups of caregivers in terms of their use of measures for dealing with resident aggression and the differences between these groups related to their characteristics. Background. Caregivers in nursing home are confronted with a major challenge when faced with the aggressive behaviour of residents. Therefore, the application of recommended measures is important in supporting caregivers and promoting safety for residents. Design. Cross-sectional survey. Methods. A total of 804 caregivers working in 21 Swiss nursing homes provided data. The questionnaire used was based on published recommendations regarding management of aggressive behaviour and amendments by experts. Results. The most widely used measure aimed to calm down the resident and to understand the meaning of aggressive behaviour. Physical activities were applied by around 50% of the respondents, and interdisciplinary case reviews as well as standardised instruments for assessment and documentation were used b