Distressed behaviours
Our aims
Working with people living with dementia and the Dementia Carers Expert Reference Group, we’ll create an information sheet for people living with dementia and their carers. This will improve awareness of distressed behaviours and provide information about how to access support if needed.
- Our Greater Manchester Dementia Care Pathway offers a unique opportunity for people to access resources and information about local services. We’ll ensure that the pathway contains up to date and relevant information.
- Working collaboratively with partners across Greater Manchester, including the adult social care transformation programme, we’ll support initiatives to improve understanding for practitioners who work with people with dementia.
Why this matters
People with dementia can become distressed, which can lead to symptoms such as increased aggression, anxiety, apathy, agitation, depression, delusions, hallucinations and sleep disturbances. But these behaviours may have other causes, including pain, delirium or inappropriate care. Understanding the causes of these behaviours and addressing them before offering treatment can prevent things getting worse and prevent any harm. It can also avoid the use of unnecessary interventions, such as antipsychotic medication and antidepressants, which may not manage the symptoms effectively.” (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, 2019
What we’ve achieved so far
- In April 2020 we developed a document collating resources for care home staff, recognising the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic
- Guidance was also created for GPs and both documents include information in relation to supporting distressed behaviours and complex needs.
- We have links with the adult social care transformation programme in Greater Manchester which continues to work on projects related to complex needs in dementia.
What’s next?
This project is part of our Dementia and Brain Health Delivery Plan 2023 to 2025. We’re working closely with our Lived Experience Group, Dementia Carers Expert Reference Group and partners across Greater Manchester to take this work forward
We are exploring our use of language and working on developing a toolkit for people affected by dementia in Greater Manchester.
National resources have been added to the website: Useful national resources: distressed behaviours
You can find out more about our Lived Experience Group here
You can find out more about our Dementia Carers Expert Reference Group here
If you would like further information or to get involved with this project, please email gmhscp.dementiaunited@nhs.net and we will direct you to the relevant project manager.