Risk in Dementia - Assessment and Management: a Literature Review

Abstract

Dementia affects a person's ability to undertake previously achievable tasks which can present risks. The assessment and management of risk can differ and inclusion of the person's view is not always apparent.

This literature review aimed to explore current knowledge concerning key areas relevant to risk assessment and management. This included the contribution of occupational therapy functional assessment. It revealed that knowledge tended to be practice based, rather than research based, and that there was no specific research on functional assessment of risk. Issues of how risk was established by those involved and consideration of the person's view were raised