Dementia & Alzheimer’s Care: Common Reasons behind Encountered Behavioral Problems

People with Alzheimer’s (or other dementia types) often exhibit certain behavioral problems like aggression, disorientation, cynicism, depression, hallucinations, etc. that make caregiving a lot difficult than usual. Hence, caregivers are often given special training to take care of people who have dementia. As these behavioral problems are unintentional, it's important for a caregiver to understand why the care recipient is behaving in a particular manner. Some of the common reasons that trigger these behavioral problems and make dementia & Alzheimer’s care challenging are mentioned below.

Physical Distress

People with Alzheimer’s may not be able to find the reason for physical pain due to diminishing cognitive abilities and consequently interpret this in terms of agitation or aggression. Physical distress could be caused by infections, incontinence problems, injuries, side-effects of medication, tight clothing, not been able to sleep properly, etc. It is important for caregivers (family or professional) to pick up on the signs that point towards such problems.

Problems with Surroundings

Higher sensitivity to the surroundings may cause certain behavioral problems in people with dementia. Things such as loud noises, poor lighting, reflection from mirrors and other reflective surfaces, too warm or cold rooms, disorganized furniture, bright colors, difficulty in finding bathroom & other places in the house, etc. may create uneasiness and lead to anger, helplessness, and frustration. Clear path and closeness to bathroom could help in countering the incontinence problem.

Inability to Perform Daily Tasks

With aging, it's quite common for elders to have difficulty performing activities of daily living (ADL), however, people with dementia often forget completely how to do these tasks. Simple activities such as eating & dressing may become almost impossible to do without help. This makes a caregiver's job more difficult as they have to take special care while assisting with ADL. Arranging clothes in the order they must be worn, cutting food in small pieces & eating with them, explaining what you are going to do next while helping with bathing, etc. will reduce anxiety & make caring appreciably easier.

Difficulty in Communicating

As the memory of the people with Alzheimer’s degrades, they find it increasingly difficult to express their views. Not being able to communicate effectively with others brings out the feeling of despair, anger, and frustration. Patience becomes an important element while dealing with such situations. Also, anticipating what the care recipient is trying to say, removing distractions while communicating, using gestures & simple sentences, giving enough time to respond, etc. are quite helpful in creating an amicable environment that reduces occurrence of behavioral problems.

Many of the Comfort Keepers offices nationwide provide customized care for clients who are experiencing symptoms of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Our Comfort Keepers are specially trained and ready to help. Click here to know more about our Alzheimer’s care services.

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