P-060: Non-drug care of acute anxiety states in patients with productive cognitive impairment

摘要

Introduction: In elderly patients with cognitive impairment, acute anxiety can exacerbate behavioral symptoms (wandering, crying...) or result in aggressive behaviors against self and others. Such a suffering has to be treated all the earlier that anxiety may propagate to other patients. Methods: Among several therapeutic, non-drug solutions created and tested by paramedical staff, 3 tools were gathered in a "flash activity closet", located in the living area of an Alzheimer unit: (i) an empathy rag puppet; (ii) a touch and feel book, using different textures to show characters or objects; (iii) stuffed-animal mediation. Results: These three devices helped reduce anxiety through drawing patient's attention away, getting back touch with reality, and feeling appeased (by touch, mainly). They also helped the expression and verbalization of memories and emotions, in particular smiling and laughing, and re-build social connections. Last but not least, in 1 year, the use of neuroleptics dropped by 38%. Key conclusions: Acute anxiety states are critical situations in an Alzheimer unit, and isolating the resident from the group is hardly ever efficient, when possible. When the person's attention is drawn away, social links are improved and help the expression of emotions and memories, and reassurance. Reduced neuroleptics is also a positive result, from the ethical and medical point of view, e.g. helping fall prevention. Our paramedical staff carries out additional research to identify new media and find diversified solutions for critical situations.