How to Effectively Manage Complex Alzheimer’s Behaviors
If there’s one predictable component in caring for someone with dementia, it’s change. Once you’ve discovered an effective way to help a senior through a particularly challenging behavior, a new one arises. It’s important to know how to respond appropriately to a variety of Alzheimer’s behaviors, both at its current state and as the disease progresses.
There are several general steps to keep in mind when a challenging situation occurs:
Identify what triggered the behavior. What happened just prior to the incident? Where did the behavior happen? What happened immediately afterwards? React calmly and reassuringly.
Modify the environment or your own caregiving style to reduce potential sources of stress that can cause or exacerbate the behavior. For example, minimize distractions; ensure the room temperature is comfortable; refrain from using a loud, frustrated tone of voice.
These tried-and-true tips can help with specific scenarios:
Communication Confusion
A person with Alzheimer’s may become agitated if they are unable to understand what you are trying to tell them. It may also be stressful if they can’t find the right words to tell you what they need or want. What you see are actions that cry out the emotions that the person is feeling. Additionally, the person may use incorrect words for an object, or state repeatedly that they want to go home, even if they are home. To someone with dementia, “home” may not really be a place, but represents a feeling of safety.
How to respond: Try responding to the emotion being communicated rather than the behavior. Provide comforting words and reassurance that they are safe, and that everything is ok. Try redirecting the senior to a calming activity that you know the person enjoys, such as listening to favorite song or looking at photos. Or, suggest moving into a new location, such as to the kitchen for a snack or to the porch to water the flowers.
Tiredness
Agitation, fear, repetitive behaviors and many other troubling yet typical behaviors can occur when someone with dementia is feeling run-down.
How to respond: Use a quiet tone of voice and encourage some rest time. Turn off the TV and other distractions. Play some soothing music that the senior enjoys. Create an environment that promotes relaxation, in whatever way is most welcomed by the senior.
Overstimulation
Too many people, too much noise, garish colors in the environment, shadowy rooms, or excessive clutter can lead to agitation, hallucinations, or aggressive behavior.
How to respond: Above all, remain calm. Stay an arm’s length from the senior if safety is a concern. Be sensitive to the feelings that may be causing the behavior, such as fear or worry. Gently provide reassurance, and encourage the person to go with you to another place where it is well lit, calming, and quiet.
Under-stimulation
Conversely, a senior who is bored may begin displaying repetitive behaviors.
How to respond: Turn a repetitive behavior into an activity. For instance, if the person is rubbing their hand across the table, give them a cloth and ask for help with dusting. Other simple, useful tasks are winding a ball of yarn or stacking magazines. Try using art, music, or touch to help the senior relax. Pull out a memory book or treasure box to look through.
Physical Discomfort
Physical discomfort from illness, medication side effects, or other issues can be hard to detect in someone who is unable to communicate clearly. In addition to troubling behaviors, watch for nonverbal cues, such as grimacing, fidgeting, tugging at clothing or at a particular body part, etc.
How to respond: Check to see if the senior is hungry, thirsty, has a full bladder or is constipated. Look at clothing to see if it may be too tight or too loose. If you’re unable to determine the cause of the senior’s discomfort, or if you think it might be related to medication side effects, contact the physician.
Frustration
Strong reactions can occur when someone with dementia is unable to accomplish a task or chore, especially one that involves multiple steps.
How to respond: Remain calm and patient, repeating instructions one step at a time. Use statements such as, “Do as much as you can, and I will help you.” If frustration continues, do not persist in making the person perform the task, but rather move on to a different activity.
Knowing how to quickly and effectively respond to these types of challenging behaviors is key to the wellbeing of a senior with dementia. It’s also crucial for your own well-being as a caregiver. Once the problem behavior has passed, reflect on how you handled the situation. Determine if anything should be done differently next time. Keep track of these details in a journal, and refer back to them to see what worked and what did not.
Right at Home, a top-rated Sarasota home health care agency, provides professionally certified senior care services. Contact us at (941) 929-1966 for a free in-home consultation to discuss your care needs or concerns.