Dementia Behaviors: Information and Resources for Caregivers
A caregiver's guide to understanding the troubling behavior and personality changes characteristic of dementia. Explore resources, advice and support for managing challenging dementia-related behaviors such as anger, irritability, agitation, repetition, wandering and aggression.
Behavioral Disturbance in Dementia
Clinically defined as neuropsychiatric symptoms; apathy, depression, anxiety, aggression and agitation are commonly noted as challenging behavioral signs of dementia. Although impaired reasoning abilities and loss of memory are the characteristic signs of dementia, behavioral and psychological changes sometimes present greater challenges for caregivers than the hallmark functional and cognitive declines.
Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia
- Hallucinations
- Agitation
- Repetition
- Delusions
- Apathy
- Aggression
- Anxiety
- Personality / Mood Disturbance
- Paranoia
- Sleep Problems
- Wandering
Managing Dementia's Challenging Behavioral Issues
"When neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia like severe agitation, aggression and severe symptoms of depression appear, they can be a real challenge to a patient and their caregiver," says Jacobo Mintzer, M.D., distinguished fellow with the American Psychiatric Association who has been involved in clinical research on Alzheimer’s disease for the last 20 years. In fact, a psychogeriatric study of the predictive pattern of behavioral symptoms in dementia on caregiver burden found that a higher prevalence of behavioral problems was strongly correlated with higher caregiver stress and earlier placement in long-term care settings.
Dementia, by definition, is a progressive disease- meaning it gets worse over time. Eventually, most people who have been diagnosed with dementia will experience behavioral symptoms over the span of this progression. Although behavioral symptoms rarely disappear completely, there are treatment recommendations to help caregivers manage these disruptive behaviors.
Non-pharmaceutical approaches such as redirection, validation and other behavioral-management techniques are widely recommended as the first line of treatment. A clinical evaluation that starts with examining the behavior, determining its everyday impact (i.e. insomnia, safety concerns), and working on modifiable environmental factors should be attempted before adding pharmaceutical interventions. Most antipsychotic medications are prescribed off-label, or "black box" for the treatment of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. Although use in this way is technically outside of the drug's intended purpose, when prescribed in combination with other therapeutic techniques, this treatment approach can be effective in providing some measure of relief for dementia patients and consequently their caregivers.
Dementia Behaviors Articles
Dementia Caregiving: Coping With Alzheimer's Behaviors
Is your loved one's dementia-related irritability, anxiety or other behavior change difficult for you to handle? If your answer to this question is a resounding "Yes!" don't worry, you're not alone.
15 CommentsDementia-related Behaviors: Managing Public Outbursts
Any dementia caregiver who has been mortified by a loved one’s public meltdown has contemplated limiting the frequency of their outings. Use these tips to prevent and defuse agitation and handle meltdowns with tact.
16 CommentsDementia Behavior Can Seem Like Manipulation
When a parent with dementia begins acting childlike or deceitful, it is sometimes assumed they are being manipulative because their behavior is just so outrageous. The fact is that most seniors with dementia aren't capable of truly manipulative behavior.
56 CommentsAn Inside Take on Dementia Behaviors
A dementia patient’s perspective on shadowing, repeating questions and dealing with other troubling behaviors associated with Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
27 CommentsDementia and Anger: Causes, Tips, and Prevention
Cognitive changes are a leading cause of dementia anger and aggression. Learn more about causes, coping strategies, and prevention here.
36 CommentsManaging Dementia Through Redirection and Relearning
Although it’s common for those with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias to occasionally become agitated, angry or aggressive, redirection techniques are an effective method of managing these difficult behaviors.
3 Comments
Dementia Behaviors Questions
Nonstop watching news programs. Any suggestions on redirecting her to other activities?
8 Answers97yroldmom Answered 15 hours agoWhat do I say to my husband who insists that his reflection in the mirror is someone else? He calls him his buddy.
5 Answerslealonnie1 Answered 15 hours agoWho is creating activities for who?
6 AnswersNeedHelpWithMom Answered 19 hours agoSeizures with Alzheimer's. Last night, my husband, who has been doing fairly well had an episode while sleeping, that I am wondering if it might have been a seizure?
4 AnswersAlvaDeer Answered Jan 25, 2023
Dementia Behaviors Discussions
Sometimes, you just have to laugh.
4 CommentsJoAnn29 Commented 16 hours agoSkin picking with dementia/Alzheimer's and how to stop it without drugs.
4 CommentsNeedHelpWithMom Commented Jan 11, 2023My mother is being unkind to other residents. Any advice?
5 CommentsIsthisrealyreal Commented Jan 6, 2023LO is having some signs of dementia. Has anyone else had household items disappear? In our case its been food items lately.
4 CommentsHibiscusGirl Commented Dec 27, 2022