Working Through Behavior Challenges
Understand how to navigate the challenging behavior changes that often come with dementia.
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Noticing changes in your loved one’s behaviors and seeing new, unexpected behaviors develop can be some of the most difficult parts of caregiving for someone with dementia. As your loved one’s disease progresses, they may interact with you, others and their environment differently than before.
- A calm person may now become easily frustrated and agitated.
- An agreeable person may now question everything – routine, medicines, etc. – as their confusion increases.
- A person who loved being at home may now start wandering.
- Instead of asking a question one time, a person may ask the same question numerous times throughout the day.
These behaviors are challenging and can cause added stress for both the caregiver and the one receiving care. Learning more about the cognitive changes caused by dementia can help you anticipate possible behaviors and feel better prepared to respond to them in a calm, supportive way.