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