Dementia: Dealing with frequent, typically distressing behaviors

Dementia poses many challenges, each for individuals fighting it and for these near them. It may be arduous to witness and address frequent behaviors that come up from diseases like Alzheimer’s illness, vascular dementia, or frontotemporal dementia.

Caring for an individual who has dementia could also be irritating, complicated, or upsetting at instances. Understanding why sure behaviors happen and studying methods to deal with a wide range of conditions will help easy the trail forward.

What behaviors are frequent when an individual has dementia?

Individuals with dementia typically exhibit a mix of surprising behaviors, comparable to:

• Making odd statements or utilizing the unsuitable phrases for sure gadgets.
• Not realizing they should bathe or forgetting easy methods to keep good hygiene.
• Repeating themselves or asking the identical query time and again.
• Misplacing objects or taking others’ belongings.
• Not recognizing you or remembering who they’re.
• Being satisfied {that a} deceased cherished one continues to be alive.
• Hoarding objects, comparable to mail and even rubbish.
• Exhibiting paranoid conduct.
• Turning into simply confused or agitated.
• Leaving the home with out telling you, and getting misplaced.

Why do these behaviors happen?

Contained in the mind of a cherished one with dementia, image a wildfire shifting course, damaging or destroying mind cells (neurons) and neural networks that regulate our conduct.

What drives this harm will depend on the underlying trigger, or causes, of dementia. For instance, whereas the precise explanation for Alzheimer’s illness is just not identified, it’s strongly linked to proteins which can be both gunking up or strangling mind cells. Somebody with vascular dementia has skilled periodic inadequate blood circulation to sure areas of the mind, inflicting neurons to die.

“As dementia progresses, the particular person loses mind cells related to reminiscence, planning, judgment, and controlling temper. You lose your filters,” says Dr. Stephanie Collier, a psychiatrist at Harvard-affiliated McLean Hospital.

Six methods for dealing with dementia-related behaviors

Coping with distressing or puzzling dementia-related conduct can require the kind of tack you’d take with a teen. “Attributable to declines, older adults with dementia can appear to be kids. However individuals are usually extra affected person with kids. You need to think about using that strategy with older adults,” suggests Lydia Cho, a McLean Hospital neuropsychologist.

• Do not level out inaccurate or unusual statements. “It might probably make individuals with dementia really feel silly or belittled. They could not keep in mind particulars however maintain onto these feelings, really feel remoted, and withdraw. As a substitute, put them comfortable. Simply go along with what they’re saying. Preserve issues gentle,” Cho says.
• Do not attempt to cause with the particular person. Dementia has broken the one you love’s comprehension. Trying to cause may be irritating for each of you.
• Use distraction. This helps when the particular person makes unreasonable requests or is reasonably agitated. “Acknowledge what the particular person is saying, and alter the exercise. You possibly can say, ‘I see that you simply’re upset. Let’s go over right here for a minute.’ After which do an exercise that engages the senses and relaxes them, comparable to sitting exterior collectively, listening to music, folding socks, or consuming a chunk of fruit,” Dr. Collier says.
• Preserve unsafe gadgets out of sight. Put away or lock up belongings the cherished one should not have — particularly probably harmful gadgets like automotive keys or cleansing fluids. Think about putting in cupboard locks.
• Supervise hygiene routines. The particular person with dementia may want a reminder to wash, or may must have the day’s garments laid out on the mattress. Otherwise you may want to help with bathing, shaving, brushing enamel, or dressing.
• Spend time collectively. You do not have to persuade the one you love of your identification or have interaction in fascinating dialog. Simply hearken to music or do some easy actions collectively. It would assist maintain the particular person from withdrawing additional.

Security is important when an individual has dementia

Generally easy methods aren’t sufficient when a cherished one has dementia.

For instance, if the particular person ceaselessly tries to depart dwelling, you may want so as to add child-proof covers to doorknobs, set up further door locks or a safety system in your house, or get the particular person a GPS tracker bracelet.

If the particular person is ceaselessly upset and even violent, you will must name the physician. It could possibly be {that a} new medical downside (comparable to a urinary tract an infection) is inflicting agitation. “If the agitated conduct is not as a consequence of a brand new well being downside and is predictable and extreme, we’d prescribe a medicine to assist regulate temper, comparable to an antidepressant or an antipsychotic in circumstances of utmost agitation or hostility,” Dr. Collier says.

As dementia modifications, search the assistance and help you want

Nobody expects you to know easy methods to work together with somebody who has dementia. There is a studying curve for all of us, and it continues even after you get a really feel for the scenario. “The method retains altering,” Cho says. “What works right now could not work subsequent week or the week after that for the one you love. So maintain attempting completely different methods.”

And get help for your self, comparable to group remedy for caregivers and their households. You may also discover data on the Alzheimer’s Affiliation or Household Caregiver Alliance.