Positive Behavior Support in Gerontology
摘要
The aging process represents one of many components of the human experience. Neurocognitive disorders (NCDs) are characterized by a significant decline in one or more domains of cognitive functioning, including the use of language, executive function, complex attention, learning, memory, perceptual-motor, or social cognition (Emmady et al., 2022). Care partners are often necessary for individuals with NCDs and research shows that these care partners enter the role without much, if any, preparation, or education on effective practices in caregiving and/or behavior support (Reinhard et al., 2008). Positive Behavior Support (PBS) can be used to address caregiving concerns for a person exhibiting NCD. The following chapter discusses a model demonstration project of PBS in Gerontology and demonstrates how atypical behaviors often exhibited by individuals with NCDs can be assessed and treated from a person-centered lifespan perspective, including consideration for the person’s life history, current medical needs, environmental factors that may be evoking undesired behaviors, and strategies to best support the individual and the care partner. A touching account on lived perspective by one of the authors is included at the end.