Comprehensive assessment

Health care staff, carers and family should monitor and work to address the environmental, physical health and psychosocial factors that may increase the likelihood of the person with dementia experiencing behavioural and psychological symptoms. Such as:

• unmet needs (e.g. pain, hunger, lack of privacy, communication, lack of meaningful activities)
• lowered stress threshold (e.g. conflicts or poor communication, carer stress)

People with dementia who develop behavioural and psychological symptoms should be offered a comprehensive assessment at an early opportunity by a professional skilled in symptom assessment and management. This should involve their carer(s) and families as appropriate and include;

• analysis of the behaviours (e.g., antecedent [triggers], behaviour description and consequence [ABC approach]), frequency, timing and presentation
• assessment of the person with dementia’s physical and mental health
• their level of pain or discomfort
• whether they are experiencing side effects of medication
• the influence of religious and spiritual beliefs and cultural norms
• physical environmental and interpersonal factors
• an assessment of carer(s) health and communication style when interacting with the person with dementia should also be undertaken
• understanding the behaviour as a form of communication.