Dementia Behavior Changes: How to Support Your Loved One

Watching your loved one change as their dementia progresses is never easy. They’re still the person you love, but their behavior isn’t the same. They may be less bubbly, scared or even mean.

So, how do you cope with tough situations while still showing your senior you’re there to help?

First, it’s important to understand that it’s not your fault because shifts in attitude and personality are symptoms of the condition. Your loved one just needs a little extra care and compassion.

Here’s how to handle dementia behaviors.

Why Does Dementia Change Behavior?

Dementia can alter your senior’s behavior because its progression damages the neurons in the parts of their brain that are responsible for their personality, emotional regulation and ability to make decisions. Language skills can also suffer, which affects how they express their thoughts.

These environmental, physical and emotional triggers may exacerbate those changes:

• Pain and discomfort
• Fatigue
• Hunger and thirst
• Loud noises
• Ambient temperature
• Time of day
• Needing the bathroom
• Feeling rushed
• Grief or loneliness
• Unfamiliar caregivers

Common Dementia Behaviors and How to Handle Them

Aggression and Agitation

Up to 60% of people who develop dementia exhibit signs of physical and verbal aggression. It can be extremely distressing to watch your loved one become irritable, restless and confused. They may yell, curse, hit, push or throw things due to one of the previously mentioned triggers or a combination of them.

First, it’s essential to remain calm because arguing can upset them further and put you both in harm’s way. Use a low, soft voice and avoid correcting them. Remove identified triggers and redirect their attention to a simple task like folding laundry or listening to music.

Wandering

A change in setting and the time of day can cause your loved one to wander. Forgetfulness brought on by dementia may also have them regularly searching for belongings, even if they’re within reach. Assess the security of their surroundings and clear fall hazards to reduce the risk of injury.

You can also install door alarms, doorbell cameras, childproof doorknob covers and slide bolts to prevent them from exiting the house. Consider giving them a wearable GPS tracker so you can find them quickly if they do roam.

Sundowning

The plaques that develop in your loved one’s brain due to dementia can affect their body’s ability to regulate their sleep-wake cycle. Combine that with lighting changes throughout the day, and they may experience an increased feeling of confusion known as sundowning.

You can ease its effects by:

• Establishing a consistent nighttime routine
• Encouraging natural light exposure during the day
• Limiting evening activities
• Closing curtains and turning on lights before dusk
• Reducing ambient noise

Repetitive Actions and Questions

As dementia progresses, your loved one could lose short-term memory retention, resulting in more frequent confusion. If they’re residing in an assisted living community or skilled nursing facility, they may also feel disoriented and repeatedly ask where they are or when they’re going home. Pointing out that your loved one has already said or done something can leave them feeling embarrassed or dismissed.

Instead, answer each question as if it’s the first time they’ve asked. Keep your responses simple. Use written reminders or visual cues like notes and whiteboards to help remind them about things like dates, times and locations. Most importantly, remain calm and practice patience.

Paranoia and Hallucinations

Dementia-related paranoia and hallucinations can occur for many reasons, including:

• Difficulty processing auditory stimuli
• Vision loss
• Issues with memory formation
• Altered reasoning ability
• Confusion between dreams and reality

Medication side effects, dehydration, lack of sleep, UTIs, seeing their reflection and being in unfamiliar surroundings can contribute to suspicion and mistrust, too.

Here’s how to handle it:

• Avoid arguing with or dismissing them.
• Acknowledge their emotions without confirming or denying hallucinations.
• Reassure your loved one that they’re safe.
• Identify and address possible visual triggers like mirrors and shadows.
• Remove yourself from the situation if they become aggressive or accusatory.

Refusing Care

Your loved one may resist help or flat-out refuse personal and medical care if they have dementia. That may be because they fear a loss of independence or privacy, they don’t understand what’s happening, or they don’t recognize you or their care team.

If your loved one resists assistance, try the following:

• Offer choices instead of giving orders.
• Don’t rush your loved one through tasks.
• Explain the steps of their care process in simple language.
• Preserve their modesty during bathing with towels or washcloths.
• Validate their feelings.
• Take a break and return to the task later.

When to Seek Support

Just as important as knowing how to handle dementia behaviors is knowing when it’s time to bring in professional assistance. You don’t have to navigate this journey on your own, and it’s not a personal failure to ask for help. Caregiver burnout is real, and taking care of yourself allows you to be more present for your senior.

Consider professional care if you notice the following:

• Your loved one’s state of mind or physical health is rapidly declining.
• They experience new paranoia or hallucinations.
• They’re consistently aggressive toward you.
• Their behaviors put your safety or theirs at risk.
• Your senior’s dementia behaviors aren’t changing despite your efforts.
• You feel constantly exhausted.
• Your own health is suffering due to caregiving responsibilities.

Dementia Care Tailored for Your Loved One

Personalized, hands-on memory care can make all the difference in your loved one’s quality of life. Embassy Healthcare offers services and programs to improve daily living, ease stress and enhance safety. Learn about our services and contact us to find a location near you.