Addressing psychological trauma in dementia sufferers

Research has demonstrated that dementia sufferers may be victims of recent physical assault by family caregivers and other patients and staff in long-term care facilities. Some dementia sufferers have also been victims of violence at other points in their lives from events such as combat, physical and sexual abuse, natural and manmade disasters, and the like. These violent events may result in psychological trauma and the psychological aftermath of these violent incidents may last until death, if it is not treated. The purpose of this paper is to outline some intervention strategies regarding restraints for dementia sufferers who have a history of violence andfor whom little or no treatment has been provided. This paper is not intended to train trauma counseling specialists but to present common intervention strategies that may be fielded by long-term care staff to relieve unnecessary suffering.