Nursing care of cognitively impaired, institutionalized elderly.

Findings indicate the importance of many nursing staff behaviors in relation to the behaviors of demented elderly persons, especially when asking the elder to complete a care task, such as dressing. Nonverbal as well as verbal nursing staff behaviors were related to behaviors of demented elderly persons, especially smiling, eye contact, and manipulating the environment to avoid difficult encounters. The nursing staff's ability to remain relaxed and flexible when assisting with the elder's care was strongly related to the elder's ability to remain flexible, calm, and cooperative during the care procedure. Use of verbal distraction or redirection, praise, and light-hearted, playful approaches were often found to be helpful when the demented elder became upset or paranoid.