In assessing the Activating Event, review the following information:
Questions to answer:
- When & where did the behaviour occur?
- What was the person doing immediately before the behaviour occurred?
- What was happening around the person at the time?
Assess environmental factors:
- Noise (eg. TV loud, music loud, staff change of shift, meal time clatter)
- Clutter (eg. Furniture, people)
- Bright lights/glare on the floor
- Mirrors
- Temperature (eg. Too hot/cold)
- Recent changes to environment (eg. Renovations, staff/resident changes)
- Does the environment provide a safe area for residents to wander around?
- Does the environment encourage independence, dignity and mobility?
- Does the environment accept the client’s cultural and lifestyle habits?
Assess physical factors:
- Metabolic: Hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, hypercalcaemia, hyponatraemia
- Infections: Urinary tract infection, pneumonia, septicaemia
- Neurologic: Stroke, subarachnoid haemorrhage
- Traumatic: Chronic pain, head trauma, fractures such as hip & rib
- Systemic: Hypoglycaemia, vitamin B12 deficiency, folate deficiency
- Medications: Sedatives, antihistamines, alcohol, changes in medication
- Impaction: Faecal
Does the person have:
- Impaired vision or hearing
- Acute illness, eg. UTI, pneumonia
- Chronic illness, eg. Angina, CCF, diabetes
- Chronic pain, eg. Arthritis, ulcers, headaches
- Dehydration
- Constipation
- Fatigue or physical discomfort
Assess psychological factors:
- Does the person have a history of psychiatric illness?
- Has the person experienced a recent loss or an accumulation of losses?
- Does the person appear sad? Eg. Tearful, withdrawn
- Are past events influencing present behaviours? Eg. Post traumatic stress, POW, abuse
- Does the person appear to be responding to hallucinations?