People with dementia and very severe challenging behavior can be temporarily admitted to highly specialized units when living in a regular long-term care setting is not possible. The aim of this study was to gain more insight into the organization, treatment, and outcomes of treatment in these units. It appeared that specialized units were pioneering and differed in how they organized care and which treatments were applied. Similarities were found in the role of the nursing staff, intensive multidisciplinary treatment, and attention to sensory stimuli. Successful treatment of these persons comprised of: 1) attention for improving well-being, 2) multidisciplinary analysis and treatment, and 3) attitude and skills of those involved. When a group of 127 people with dementia was followed, it was found that one-third of participants died during admission at the units. For persons with dementia with very severe physical aggression, the risk of death was nine times higher.
Gerrie van Voorden graduated as a physician from Leiden University in 2013. She worked in various fields within elderly care. In 2017, she began a combined training program to become an elderly care physician (ECP) and researcher. This thesis is the result of the latter. Since October 2024, she works as an ECP and researcher at IJsselheem in Zwolle area.