L17 - Responding Effectively to Difficult or Challenging Behavior

Challenging behaviors

Actions that detract the well-being of individuals due to physical or psychological distress.

Aggressive challenging behaviors

Include hitting, screaming, kicking, grabbing, nipping, scratching, biting, spitting, choking, hair pulling, throwing objects.

Non-aggressive challenging behaviors

Include apathy, depression, repetitive noise, repetitive questions, making strange noise, constant request for help, eating/drinking excessively, overactivity.

Caregiver qualities

Should be calm, rational, understanding, tolerant, adaptive, accepting, and supportive of patient needs.

Dealing with difficult behavior

Remain calm, be patient, focus on behavior not the patient, ask for requests politely, practice gentle assertiveness to avoid negative feelings.