from the Alzheimer's Association
It is important to remember that the person is not acting this way on purpose.
Changes in behavior can be caused by:
Physical discomfort (illnesses, medication)
Over stimulation (loud noises, busy or active environment)
Unfamiliar surroundings (new places, inability to recognize home)
Complicated tasks (difficulty with activities or chores)
Frustrating interactions (inability to communicate effectively)
Whatever the cause, be sure to indentify the specific challenge and consider
possible solutions.
What was the undesirable behavior? Is it harmful
to the individual or others?
What happened just before the behavior occured?
Did something "trigger" the behavior?
What happend immediately after the behavior occured?
How did you react?
Try to answer the following questions: What, where,
when, why and how?
What are the needs of the person with dementia?
Are they being met?
Can adapting the environment help reduce the
difficult behavior?
How can you change your reaction or approach
to the behavior? Are you responding in a calm and supportive way?
Did your response help?
Do you need to explore other potential causes
and solutions? If so, what can you do differently?
Each person with Alzheimer's is not the same, so the behaviors or changes
he experiences are also different. Therefore, families and caregivers
respond to difficult situations in different ways. This brochure
discusses some of the most common challenging behaviors and explores
possible ways to respond to them.
A person with Alzheimer's may do or say something over and over again.
He may repeat a word, question or activity. In most cases, the person
is probably looking for comfort, security and familiarity.
The person may also pace or undo what has just been finished. These
actions are often harmless for the person with Alzheimer's, but can be
stressful for the caregiver.
Here are some ways to respond to repetitive behaviors:
Look for a reason behind the repetittion.
Respond to the emotion, not the behavior.
Turn the action or behavior into an activity.
Stay calm and be patient.
Answer him.
Engage him in an activity.
Use memory aids
Accept the behavior and work with it.
Consult a physician.
Aggressive behaviors may be verbal (shouting, name calling) or physical
(hitting, pushing). These behaviors can occur suddenly without an
apparent reason, or result from a frustrating situation. Whatever the
case, it is important to try to understand what's causing the person to
become angry or upset.
Here are some potential ways to respond:
Try to identify the immediate cause.
Focus on feelings, not facts
Don't get angry and upset.
Limit distractions.
Try a relaxing activity.
Change focus to another activity.
Due to memory loss and confusion, the person with Alzheimer's may see
things differently. He may become suspicious of those around him and
accuse them of theft, infidelity or other improper behavior. At times,
he may also misinterpret what he sees and hears.
If this happens:
Don't take offense.
Don't argue or try to convince.
Offer a simple answer.
Switch his attention to another activity.
Duplicate items if lost.
At times, the person with Alzheimer's may not recognize familiar
people, places or things. He may forget relationships, call family
members by other names and become confused about where he lives. He
may also forget the purpose of common items such as a pen or fork.
These situations are extremely difficult for caregivers and require
much patience and understanding.
Caregivers should also:
Stay calm.
Reply with a brief explanation
Show photos and other reminders
Offer corrections as a suggestion
Try not to take it personally
A patient with Alzheimer's may feel anxious or agitated at times.
He may become restless and need to move around or pace. Or he may
become upset in certain places or focused on specific details. He
may also be over reliant on the caregiver for attention and direction.
If the person with Alzheimer's becomes anxious or agitated:
Listen to his frustration
Reassure him.
Involve him in activities.
Modify the environment
Find outlets for his energy
Stay calm and be understanding.
Be patient and flexible.
Look for reasons for each particular behavior.
Respond to the emotion, not the behavior.
Don't argue or try to convince.
Acknowledge requests and respond to them.
Accept the behavior as a reality of the disease
and ty to work through it.
Explore various solutions.
Find other outlets for the behavior.
Use memory aids.
Try not to take behaviors personally.
Talk to others about your situation.
Find time for yourself.
The Alzheimer's Association is the only national voluntary organization
deducated to conquering Alzheimer's disease through research and to providing
information and support to people with Alzheimer's disease, their families,
and caregivers.
Founded in 1980 by family caregivers, the Alzheimer's Association has more than
200 chapters nationwide providing programs and services, including support
groups, to assist Alzheimer families in their communities. The Association
is the leading funding source for Alzheimer research after the federal government.
Information on Alzheimer's disease, current research, caregiving techniques and
assistance for caregivers is available from the
Alzheimer's Association. For more information or to locate the chapter nearest
you call:
(800) 272-3900Alzheimer's Association 919 North Michigan Avenue Suite 1000 Chicago, Illinois 60611-1676 Copyright © 1996 Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association, Inc.
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