Changes in the behaviours of the person you care for can be upsetting, challenging and frustrating - for both you and the person living with dementia.
Dementia can heighten a person’s personality. For some people it can completely change their behaviour or personality. Everyone is different. Some people with dementia transition from being forgetful to having a decreased awareness very slowly and without many other changes to their behaviour. Others can become quickly become anxious or agitated as their dementia progresses. Below are some ways to help you understand why the person you care for may have changing behaviour and some tips to help you in the moment.
As dementia progresses you may start to notice more changes in the behaviours of the person you care for. The person you care for may behave in ways that are unusual for them, for example:
- Shuffling and pacing.
- Withdrawal from social situations.
- Inappropriate behaviour such as undressing or sexual behaviour.
- Verbal or physical aggression.
- Swearing.
- Displaying symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder, hoarding or repetition.
- Agitation, paranoia, or suspicion.
It is important to remember that dementia is a disease that affects the brain, and the brain is what controls our behaviours. So therefore, it is not just memory and thinking that are affected, but also mannerisms and behaviour. As Dementia progresses, the persons cortex in their brain weakens, this then influences their reasoning, emotional planning and control.
Some common causes of changing behaviours in people with dementia are:
- A physical health problem, for example a pain or discomfort caused by a urinary tract infection or constipation.
- Environmental/external factors like an overstimulating environment or a different routine.
- Psychological or cognitive changes such as depression, confusion or paranoia.
- Social needs not being met for example the person with dementia may feel lonely or isolated.
Being faced with changing behaviours and knowing how to respond isn’t always easy, especially when behaviour can be aggressive, verbal or physical. It is natural to feel hurt or frustrated when the person you are supporting is behaving in a different way. Try to remember, this behaviour is a result of their condition.
Here are some ways you can help to support the person you care for when you notice changes to the way they behave:
- Try to work out what might be causing the problem- could this be driven by a physical, psychological or social need they have?
- Can you notice any common patterns of behaviour and specific triggers for the person you care for e.g., being in a noisy room or being too hot.
- Think about how the person with dementia is feeling in that moment their behaviour changes.
- Come up with a plan to make some changes in how you respond in these situations and give it a go.
- Be prepared to try different things to find out what works best.
- Keep a note of the things that work so you can share with others who might look after the person, such as family or friends.
Some doctors may prescribe medication to help with changes in behaviour. However, everyone's dementia journey is different so this may not be available. If you want to talk to someone about changing behaviours in the person you care for, you can discuss it with a GP, your local dementia support service or the community mental health team.
As a carer it is ok to take a break. Try to accept offers of support from friends and family or arrange respite through health and social care packages. Have some time to yourself to reflect and take stock so you can return to the person you look after with renewed energy and feeling calm.