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Dementia has been understood primarily as a biomedical phenomenon with a trajectory of irrevocable decline related to neurodegenerative changes. However, growing evidence suggests that the performance and behaviour of persons with dementia are not exclusively determined by neuropathology but are also influenced by personal histories, social interactions and social contexts. This evidence shifts attention from the disease process to the need for a more in-depth understanding of the place of personhood in dementia care. Despite its intuitive appeal however, there is limited empirical research grounding this approach to care. This article articulates a framework for organizing research in this area that is based on a critical review and synthesis of research. It encompasses three interrelated and intersecting domains of inquiry: the subjective experience of the person with dementia, the immediate interactional environment and the broader socio-cultural context. Each domain encapsulates a unique but interrelated dimension of a person-centred approach to dementia care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies have shown that modifications to the physical environment of psychiatric institutions are associated with positive changes in patients' behaviour, attitudes and perceptions. However, little attention has been paid to the impact such modifications to the physical environment have on the nursing staff. The building of two completely new wards at a rural psychiatric hospital provided an opportunity to examine this issue. Measures of the nursing staffs' observed behaviour and self-ratings of burnout and job satisfaction were obtained in both the old and the new wards. The results showed that the new wards were associated with largely positive changes in behaviour and increased burnout, but there was no change in job satisfaction. However, it was clear that a vital component in the success of any environmental manipulation is an appropriate, corresponding change in the organizational climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continuous monitoring of physico-chemical parameters enable the determination of water quality in lakes of the English Lake District, where nutrient enrichment needs to be managed. In the case of Elterwater, severe deterioration of water quality has resulted in the prolongeddeoxygenation of the whole water column of the inner basin. More specifically, the phytoplankton differed between the three basins, with progressive increases in biomass and species indicative of eutrophy, between the oligotrophic outer to the hypertrophic inner basins. Remedial action is proposed for this lake, with continual monitoring of recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]