Call a Care Advisor today at or click here to schedule a free assessment and learn more about how we can support your needs. Sometimes prescription drugs can be helpful in treating these behavioral changes. There are medications for anger management, depression and anxiety. Try the following strategies:. The most difficult advice to follow is to not get angry or frustrated.
When you feel overwhelmed, take a time-out if possible by leaving the room or catching your breath. Nurture your own physical, mental and emotional well-being, and you will be able to provide better care for your loved one. Management of Neuropsychiatric Symptoms of Dementia. An accomplished freelance writer and editor, Cheryl is passionate on how to bolster our resilience in old age and reshape the course of decline.
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Home Care Assistance does not sell personal information to third-parties. If you would like to exercise your right to opt out of data collection for advertising purposes, please fill out the form below. Zip or Postal Code. About Us. You may have dropped in to check on them every so often, but for the most part, they were able to function without your regular assistance. In this stage, your loved one will likely have trouble remembering people that are important to them, such as close family and friends.
They may struggle with learning new things, and basic tasks like getting dressed might be too much for them. Emotional changes are also common during this stage, including:. Living on your own requires you to be able to respond to your environment, like knowing what to do if the fire alarm goes off or the phone rings. Communicating may also become difficult during this stage.
Significant personality changes may continue to occur, including increased anxiety, hallucinations, delusions and paranoia. As their independence continues to decrease, your loved one may become more frustrated with you.
Suspicions and delusions — firmly held beliefs in things that are not real — may occur in middle- to late-stage Alzheimer's. Wandering among people with dementia is dangerous, but there are strategies and services to help prevent it. Select a Topic. Early-Stage Caregiving Early-stage Alzheimer's and related dementia symptoms are mild and the main role of a caregiver is support.
Middle-Stage Caregiving During the middle stages of Alzheimer's, the person living with dementia will need a greater level of care. Late-Stage Caregiving The late stage of Alzheimer's usually requires intensive care. Aggression and Anger Aggressive behaviors can occur suddenly, with no apparent reason, or result from a frustrating situation.
Improve sleep hygiene. Provide a comfortable bed, reduce noise and light, and play soothing music to help your loved one get to sleep. Keep a regular sleep schedule. Be consistent with the time for sleeping and keep the nighttime routine the same.
For example, give the person a bath and some warm milk before bed. Keep a night light on. Some people with dementia imagine things in the dark and become upset. Stuffed animals or a pet may also help soothe the patient and allow them to sleep. Place a commode next to the bed.
Walking to the bathroom in the middle of the night may wake the person up too much and then make it difficult to get back to sleep. Increase physical activity during the day to help your loved one feel more tired at bedtime. Monitor napping. But keep naps short. If your loved one paces at night, make sure they have a safe room in which to do so, or have another caregiver take over at night.
You need your rest, too. Adding bright light exposure during the day and melatonin supplements at night may help to improve their sleeping patterns. As well as encouraging exercise to make your loved one feel hungrier and thirstier, try these tips:. Some medications interfere with appetite. Others may cause dry mouth, so make sure that your loved one gets enough liquids with food.
Discuss eating problems with their doctor to see if any medication needs to change. Add flowers to the table or play soothing music. Reduce distractions in the eating area and avoid foods that are too hot or too cold. Try giving your loved small spoonfuls and singing funny rhymes. When they open their mouth to smile, slip in a little food. If necessary, give your loved one instructions on when to chew and when to swallow.
After eating, keep them upright for 30 minutes to avoid choking. Switch to a liquids-only diet when the time is right.
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