Behavior Challenges

Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias result in brain damage that impair function and can result in problem behaviors.  It is important to remember that the individual cannot help what he/she is doing; the behavior is caused by the disease.

What do difficult behaviors occur?

An environment can be bewildering, threatening, or frightening to a person with dementia.  For example:

• Too much noise and stimulation
• Inadequate lighting
• Too much clutter
• Confusing, insufficient, or confliction cues as to how specific spaces such as a bathroom, hall or dining room are to be used.

Any of these factors can make the environment seem bewildering, threatening or frightening to a person with e dementia and can lead to problem behaviors.

People in your home can contribute to the development of problem behaviors as well:

• A lot of visitors or holiday gathering with many family members can feel overwhelming to a person with Alzheimer’s disease.
• Verbal communication may be unclear
• Nonverbal communication may conflict with words that are spoken or may be negative.  Emotional communication is particularly important for person with dementia who readily pick up on feelings of anger, happiness, frustration, ect.

Adapting daily activities to the person’s retained abilities is also key to preventing problem behaviors.

For more information contact 317-218-5111 or www.behomelivelife.com

Communicating with Dad

Although people with Alzheimer’s disease gradually lose the ability to use words to express and understand ideas, they do retain the ability to communicate emotionally.  They can comprehend the meaning of a hug, a handshake, and a loving or disapproving glance.

Improving you own communication:

There are several things you can do to improve your own communication

• Explain what is going to happen
• Use short, simple sentences, being specific and direct about what you mean.
• Use contract and common words, not abstract or fancy words.  For example say “use” instead of “utilize.”
• Avoid clichés such as “A slip of the tongue” or “Don’t cry over spilt milk.”
• Use the proper names and common nouns.
• If the person has trouble understanding what you are saying:  repeat what you said twice.  Revise and restate using different words.
• Assume the person can understand more than he or she can express.
• Avoid logical discussions or debates.  Instead, respond to the feeling that the individual is expressing.
• When asking a question, limit the number of answers or choices.
• When giving instructions, give one direction at a time, breaking the task into small steps.  Allow time for completion of each direction before you go on.

For more information contact 317-218-5111 or www.behomelivelife.com.

Communication Tips

Although people with Alzheimer’s disease gradually lose the ability to use words to express and understand ideas, they do retain the ability to communicate emotionally.  They can comprehend the meaning of a hug, a handshake, and a loving or disapproving glance.

Often a person with dementia will pay more attention to the nonverbal communication than the words used. 

• Evaluate hearing and vision if possible.  Assess the person’s hearing and vision.  If hearing or vision aids are available, be sure they are in working order and are used.
• If the person can’t find the right word, you can:
  • Encourage the individual to act out the meaning:  Demonstrate “want to eat” with an eating motion
  • Encourage the person to “talk around” what he/she is trying to say, gradually “zeroing in” on the meaning.
  • Say what you think he/she is trying to communicate, sort of like playing “20 questions.”  Remember that people with Alzheimer’s tend to recognize words that they hear or see even when they no longer can recall words.
  • Be cautious about correcting wrong words, such as when sugar is referred to as salt.  The purpose of correcting a mistake is to health other person learns the correct way to do or say something.  A person with Alzheimer’s disease may be unable to learn and remember the information you are giving.  Consequently your corrections may only serve to frustrate the person.

For more information contact 317-218-5111 or www.behomelivelife.com.

Tips for Meaningful Days

Meaningful activities are those events or tasks that are failure free opportunities for success.  Here are some strategies for creating meaningful days for your loved one who has Alzheimer’s or another related dementia.

• *Look for activities that will be failure free.   A craft project with a pre-set outcome or appearance may be too difficult, whereas arranging silk flowers in a vase is a failure free task.
• *Reduce distractions so the person can focus on the task, eliminating things such as background noise from the television.
• *Keep exercise and physical activity part of everyday, as it helps keep sleep and nighttime habits normal.
• *Familiar activities such as setting the table and folding laundry should be part of the daily routine that the person with Alzheimer’s disease helps with.  The tasks are meaningful, familiar activities and assist to remain skills as long as possible.
• *If music, exercise, or spiritual activities were part of your family member’s routine each week, those type of activities should occur frequently during the week now as well.

For more information contact 317-218-5111.