Understanding and Managing Agitation in Dementia A Trauma-Informed and Pharmacologic Approach

Join Us for a Live Webinar Event

Thursday, December 18, 2025  |  3:00 - 4:00 PM EDT

Details

This session will explore the causes and clinical presentation of agitation in residents with dementia, including neuropsychiatric symptoms, medical contributors, and environmental stressors. We'll review trauma-informed strategies, the crisis cycle, and de-escalation techniques, with a focus on pharmacologic interventions—including antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and antidepressants. Attendees will gain tools to promote safety, reduce distress, and support staff in managing behavioral disturbances effectively in long-term care settings. 

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this presentation, attendees will be able to:

• Identify common medical, psychiatric, and environmental causes of agitation in dementia.
• Describe the stages of the crisis cycle and how it applies to dementia-related behaviors.
• Review the risks, benefits, and indications for medications used to treat agitation, including antipsychotics and mood stabilizers.
• Apply trauma-informed care principles to behavioral management strategies. 
• Develop approaches to reduce caregiver stress and improve resident outcomes in long-term care. 

Speaker Bio: 

Samuel Bartola, PMHNP-BC, is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner and Manager at MindCare Solutions, specializing in geriatric psychiatry and behavioral health in long-term care settings. With a background in critical care and over a decade of experience in healthcare, Sam provides compassionate, evidence-based psychiatric care and leads initiatives in provider education, EMR optimization, and interdisciplinary collaboration. He is passionate about improving mental health outcomes for seniors through trauma-informed approaches and practical crisis management strategies.