Integrative review: Persistent vocalizations among nursing home residents with dementia

Background: Nursing home (NH) residents with dementia commonly exhibit persistent vocalizations (PVs), otherwise known in the literature as disruptive or problematic vocalizations. Having a better understanding of PVs and the research completed to date on this phenomenon is important to guide further research and clinical practice in NHs. This integrative review examines the current literature on the phenomenon of PVs among NH residents with dementia. Methods: We conducted a search in the PubMed, Scopus, Ovid Medline, and CINAHL databases for articles published in English. Articles were included if the focus was specifically on research involving vocal behaviors of older adults with dementia residing in NHs. Results: Our literature search revealed eight research articles that met the inclusion criteria. These studies were published in 2011 or earlier and involved small sample sizes. Seven of these studies were descriptive and the eighth was a non-pharmacological intervention study for PVs exhibited by NH residents with dementia. These studies were vastly different in their labeling, definitions, and categorization of the PVs as well as methods of measuring PVs. Conclusion: The heterogeneity of the evidence limits the ability to make recommendations for practice. Given the paucity of research on this phenomenon; recommendations for additional research are given.