EVALUATION OF A CLINICAL INTERVENTION FOR WANDERERS ON A GERIATRIC NURSING UNIT

In this article, a clinical intervention designed to decrease unsafe w andering and reduce interpersonal tension on a dementia unit of a nurs ing home is described and evaluated. The intervention, a walking progr am for physically active persons with severe dementia, was designed to meet residents' physical activity and social needs. Based on therapeu tic milieu concepts, positive effects in the environment were expected in addition to the individual benefits for participants. To measure t he effect of the intervention on the nursing unit environment, the fre quency of resident-to-resident and resident-to-staff aggression in the 24 hour period after the walking group was compared to time periods w hen the group did not meet. T-test analysis revealed a statistically s ignificant reduction in the frequency of aggression in the 24 hour per iods after the walkers group. An average reduction of aggressive event s by 30% shown in this small study is important clinically. Further st udy of modifications in care on geriatric nursing units is warranted. Copyright (C) 1997 by W.B. Saunders Company.