Managing agitation and raising quality of life: ethnographic observations in hospital and care homes of agitated people living with dementia

We examined how staff interpreted agitation behaviour in people living with dementia nearing end of life, how this may influence their responses and impact on the quality of care. Structured and semi-structured non-participant observations of people living with dementia nearing end of life in hospital and care homes. These data were collected using a structured tool and checklist for behaviours classed as agitation and staff and institutional responses. 29 observations were made in acute hospital setting and 12 were made in the care home setting (files have _CH in the name).