When dealing with challenging behaviors from someone with dementia, it’s important to remember they aren’t deliberately being difficult. Here are some new approaches for handling various dementia behaviors provided by alzheimers.net.
When most people think of someone with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, they picture a senior with a benign, slightly confused demeanor who repeats themselves. But, there is a whole spectrum of other types of behaviors associated with the disease that most of us wouldn’t describe as slightly or “pleasantly confused” by any stretch of the imagination.
From angry outbursts to more physical manifestations of behavior, understanding and dealing with our loved one’s dementia behaviors may be one of the most stressful parts of being a caregiver. Fortunately, these tips listed below can help you get through the moment.
New Approaches to Difficult Dementia Behaviors
When dealing with difficult behaviors from someone with dementia, it’s important to remember that they are not deliberately being difficult.
Our loved one’s sense of reality may now be different from ours, but it is still very real to him or her. As caregivers, we can’t change the person with dementia, but we can employ strategies to better accommodate any problem behaviors. Both the environment you create at home and the way you communicate with your loved one can make a significant difference.
These tips may help get you through some difficult moments using the “What, When, Where, Why, How” technique shared in: “When Caring Takes Courage: A Compassionate and Interactive Guide for Alzheimer’s and Dementia Caregivers.”
