The social environment of the agitated nursing home resident

This study describes the characteristics of the social environment of 24 highly agitated and cognitively impaired nursing home residents, and the relationship between manifestations of agitation and attributes of the social environment. Results showed that the composition of the social environment of the agitated nursing home resident does not vary much with respect to time of day or day of the week. Additionally, most agitated behaviors were not generally affected by attributes of the social environment. The interaction of agitated behaviors with persons in the social environment is also examined. When agitated behaviors were directed towards someone, they were most likely to be directed towards staff members. Agitated behaviors were rarely triggered by any observable event, and few reactions to agitation were observed.