Coping with behavioral changes caused by dementia

Dementia is a common disease in the elderly, when brain cells gradually degenerate. To slow down the process of memory loss, caregivers need to pay attention to maintaining physical activities, eating habits and reasonable sleep for the patient.

1. Changes in the behavior of people with dementia

People with mid- to late-stage dementia will exhibit many strange behaviors, typically:
Repeating the same question or action Feeling restless, walking again, wandering Waking up at night and having trouble sleeping Following loved ones everywhere Low self-esteem, indifference to daily activities Be empathetic to changes in behavior of the person with dementia intellectual because they themselves are very confused and frustrated about their own behaviors.
MORE: Dementia: How is it detected?

2. How to deal with behavioral changes caused by dementia

Log when the behavior change occurs to determine the cause. Example:
Behavior changes at a fixed time of the day Behavior changes when exposed to noisy or messy environments Behavior changes when forced to do something you don't want From there, you can find a way change the way of treatment, living environment, plan medication before the time of behavior change to slow down the patient's behavior change according to the doctor's advice.

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If there is a sudden change in behavior, it may be due to a health problem such as pain or discomfort from constipation or an infection.
Some ways to cope with behavioral changes caused by dementia include:
Maintain activities that the person enjoys Innovating activities such as music, dance, singing and exercise regularly Make the patient feel secure Create a quiet, clean living environment Raise a dog or cat in the house to play with the sick person Massage the patient Become a caregiver for someone with dementia Changing behavior is not easy. Therefore, consult your doctor if you encounter any difficulties during your care.
MORE: Dementia Assessment Tests

3. Coping with behavior change “repeating the same question or action”

People with dementia cannot remember many things they said or did. To deal with behavior change "repeating the same question or action", you need to try:
Ingenuity and patience Help the patient find answers on his own. For example, if they frequently ask the time, buy an easy-to-read watch and keep it in an easy-to-see spot Talk about topics related to patient safety such as handling and reassurance getting lost Encourage the patient to talk about a favorite memory

4. Coping with behavior change “anxiety, anxiety”

People with dementia often appear to be walking around, wandering away from home, agitated. These are behaviors that don't last long. Therefore, during times of these behaviors, you should try to:
Ensure adequate diet for the sick person Build a daily routine, including walking Walk with the sick person or use monitoring and alarm devices for safety Bringing objects that can be held in hand if the patient is anxious, such as necklaces, boxes of objects that mean a lot to them

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5. Coping with behavioral change “sleep disturbances”

People with dementia may wake up several times at night without knowing it's night. This makes it difficult for caregivers because it disturbs sleep. Despite the difficulties in providing care, you should also try to:
Expose the sick person to daylight by organizing lots of outdoor activities Make sure the bedroom is comfortable, provide a night light or curtain Cover the light according to the patient's needs. Limit the patient's drinking coffee and alcohol in the evening

6. Coping with behavior change “following one person often”

Dementia makes the sufferer feel insecure and anxious, which in turn follows you everywhere. They may also ask about people who have passed away, or want to go home without realizing they are at home. To limit the risk of unsafety, you should try to:
Have another person accompany you to support the sick person while you do household chores such as ironing or cooking Reassure the sick person when they ask for help home Avoid telling the sick person about someone who died many years ago. Instead, talk about the good things between the two of you at the time they got to know each other.

7. Coping with behavior change “self-deprecation, indifference to self-care”

Dementia can make people feel less confident when going out or doing other activities. This indicates that the person has lost interest in people or activities that were once enjoyed. Therefore, you should try to:
Remember that the person who is sick may not lose interest in activities they enjoy but simply have more difficulty doing them Reassure the person and get them there have a favorite activity Explain clearly who they can see in that place

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8. Coping with “aggressive” behavior change

In the later stages, several behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) may appear, including:
Agitation Shouting, vulgar, offensive or violent talk Fantasy delusions (talking about things that aren't real) Hallucinations (hearing or seeing things that don't exist) It is very important to ask your doctor to treat the underlying causes such as:
Uncontrollable pain Depression that doesn't exist treatment Infections such as urinary tract infections (UTIs) Medication side effects If people with dementia are frequently agitated, you should stay calm and avoid contact. If effective countermeasures are not available, antipsychotics can be used as a short-term treatment prescribed by your doctor.

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References: nhs.uk, alzheimers.org.uk

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