Equipping Yourself with Helpful Strategies for Challenging Behaviors

While caregiving for your loved one, you may experience moments when their behavior feels challenging, unexpected or confusing. Learning about some of the most common challenging behaviors can help you feel better equipped to respond to the behavior in a helpful way while also providing encouragement and support to your loved one.

Anxiety, Agitation or Aggression

What you can do:

• Stay calm.
  Keep your voice as calm as possible and avoid arguing or raising your voice, which may escalate the situation.
• Identify triggers.
  Try to determine if there is an underlying cause – such as pain, discomfort or frustration – and address this cause first, if possible.
• Distract and redirect.
  Use a more pleasant activity to help shift your loved one’s attention.
• Create a calm environment.
  In stressful moments, try to reduce noise and stimulation that might increase their discomfort and angst. Read more about creating a calm environment here.

Sleep Problems

What you can do:

• Maintain a sleep routine.
  When possible, keep consistent wake-up and bedtime routines. Designated times and routines can help regulate your loved one’s internal clock.
• Encourage activity.
  Daily physical activity – without overstimulation – can improve your loved one’s sleep. With time and practice, you’ll be able to determine a good balance of activity and rest throughout the day so that your loved one has good potential for a successful sleep at night.
• Limit naps.
  Keep daytime naps short in order to help improve your loved one’s nighttime sleep.
• Create a comfortable sleep environment.
  Having a quiet, dark and comfortable environment can help your loved one sleep their best.

Resistance to Care

What you can do:

• Communicate with your loved one.
  When you help with a care task, be sure to explain what you plan to do in simple terms before starting the task.  Catching your loved one off-guard can increase resistance.
• Encourage independence.
  Allow your loved one to do as much as they are able to do on their own and offer support to them only when needed.
• Be gentle.
  A gentle approach with calm communication can help reduce agitation and stress for both you and your loved one. Be mindful of allowing your loved one extra time so that you avoid rushing them.
• Use familiar things.
  Having a predictable and familiar routine can help your loved one be less resistant to care. In addition, incorporating familiar objects – or even a special or favorite item – can provide comfort to your loved one while you provide care.