The field and practice of gerontology, established in 1972, has been directed by a model that focuses on the biological decline of aging. The past 2 decades have introduced empirical evidence that environmental factors converge with biological variables in the aging population to produce behavioral deficits or excesses. Researchers have identified the ways in which the environments of aging adults often fail to provide the necessary conditions for maintaining effective behavior as a result of normal life changes like retirement or death of a spouse, caregiver responses to behaviors, and enrichment that promotes social interaction and activity engagement.

Behavioral methods in the gerontology population hinge on the importance of arranging the aging adult’s environment to compensate for any environmental or biological deficit associated with advancing age.

Gerontological research has reported the successful use of behavioral procedures to effect change in the following areas:

• Restricted mobility
• Incontinence
• Self-care
• Social interaction
• Mobility
• Wandering
• Falls
• Acquisition (learning)
• Medication use to treat behavior challenges
• Community event participation
• Caregiver stress

Some research studies have examined the link between behavior problems in the elderly and caregiver stress. In fact, behavior problems  are commonly cited as major causes of caregiver stress and have been found to be the leading determining factor for institutional placement.

Given the breath and significance of health problems among the aging population that requires the constant presence of medical and nursing providers, a more appropriate intervention model for challenging behavior is one of synchronicity between medical and behavioral approaches.

Source

• Behavioral Gerontology: Application of Behavioral Methods To The Problems Of Older Adults, Burgio & Burgio, JABA 1986.