BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT OF THE DEMENTIAS

Dementia affects over four million older adults in the United States and is the leading cause of institutionalization among the elderly. As the elderly population increases over the next decades the number of individuals with severe dementia is expected to rise dramatically. Although there is no known treatment for the cognitive impairment of dementia, behavioral approaches have been demonstrated to be moderately effective for reducing the behavior problems that accompany dementing disorders. In this article we critically review the behavioral assessment and treatment literature on dementia-related behavior problems. Future directions for research and clinical practice are also discussed. © 1990.