Behavioural interventions in dementia care
This page preserves information from PACT’s Behavioural Interventions for Adults with Dementia training, designed for behaviour analysts and professionals interested in behavioural gerontology.
Behavioural approaches can help us understand why distressed or challenging behaviours occur, what the person may be communicating, and how carers and services can respond in ways that improve quality of life.
The original Kajabi-hosted self-paced course is not currently being recreated as an online checkout/member-library product. PACT can still discuss bespoke training, consultation, supervision and resources related to behavioural interventions for adults living with dementia.
Who is this topic for?
Behaviour analysts
BCBAs, BCaBAs, RBTs and UKBA(Cert)s who already work with other populations, such as autism or intellectual and developmental disabilities, and want to learn more about work with older adults living with dementia.
ABA students
Students of ABA who want to understand applications of behaviour analysis outside the more typical populations.
Behavioural gerontology practitioners
Behaviour analysts already working in behavioural gerontology who want to review interventions, assessment approaches and practical considerations.
Topics covered
The original course content was arranged around common behaviours and clinical considerations in dementia care.
Working with behaviour that challenges
Behaviours that challenge, adaptive behaviours, what should happen before interventions are used, and the distinction between function-based and non-function-based approaches.
Agitation and aggression
Interventions for agitation, aggression and escape-maintained behaviour, alongside discussion of what is still missing in the behavioural literature.
Wandering and exiting
Behavioural approaches to wandering and exiting, including gaps in the current evidence base.
Hoarding and other behaviours
Hoarding behaviour, catastrophic reactions, inappropriate sexual behaviours and other behaviours that can create distress or risk.
Assessment
Assessment of behaviour for older adults living with dementia, including functional analysis, alternatives to experimental functional analysis, demand assessments and discrimination.
Other considerations
Restraint-free care, efficacy-to-effectiveness issues, diffusion and the practical realities of applying interventions in busy care environments.
Previous course format
The original training was estimated to take just over two and a half hours to complete and was previously advertised as eligible for 2.5 BACB learning CEUs. Because the Kajabi course platform is being retired, anyone needing current CEU/certificate availability should contact PACT before relying on this information.
This page remains available to preserve the public information and signpost people towards relevant PACT training, consultancy and supervision options.
Learner feedback from the previous course
“I really enjoyed the format and practical tips broken down by topography. The information about different ways of assessing at the precursor level was especially helpful.”
Ashley
“I liked the review of researched interventions and how they were broken down by challenging behavior.”
Rebecca
“I LOVED the examples of alternative assessment approaches and the validation of the challenges that come up with assessments in our niche field.”
Jenna
Interested in behavioural gerontology training?
PACT can discuss bespoke dementia training, supervision, mentoring or consultancy related to behavioural interventions for adults living with dementia.