| Abstract: | The relationship between cognitive impairment and functional status with agitation was assessed in 200 participants of senior day care programs. Results revealed better than 85% agreement in measures of cognitive impairment (BCRS, MMSE, physician assessment of dementia). Regression analyses showed that physically non-aggressive and verbally aggressive behaviors were related to level of cognitive impairment (BCRS, MMSE). These results showed that physically non-aggressive behaviors were manifested at earlier stages of dementia than physically aggressive behaviors, which were not manifested until late stages of dementia. Verbally non-aggressive behaviors increased with severity of dementia up to moderate-severe levels of impairment and then diminished. In contrast, verbally aggressive behaviors tended to be manifested fairly consistently across levels of dementia with a small increase at the severest levels. Findings are discussed in relation to previous findings for nursing home residents. |
