Being a family caregiver for a loved one with dementia is very demanding. As many as 90 percent of caregivers caring for people who have dementia say their loved ones exhibit Dementia behaviors that are worrisome or challenging for them.

If you’re wondering if the behaviors you’re seeing from your loved one are typical of seniors with dementia, The Family Caregiver Alliance has found these behaviors to be commonly found in people with dementia:

Wandering

People with dementia walk seemingly aimlessly for various reasons, such as boredom, medication side effects, or to look for “something” or someone. They also may be trying to fulfill a physical need—thirst, hunger, a need to use the toilet, or exercise.

Incontinence

The loss of bladder or bowel control often occurs as dementia progresses. Sometimes accidents result from environmental factors; for example, someone can’t remember where the bathroom is located or can’t get to it in time.

Agitation

Agitation refers to a range of behaviors associated with dementia, including irritability, sleeplessness, and verbal or physical aggression. Often these types of behavior problems progress with the stages of dementia, from mild to more severe.

Agitation may be triggered by a variety of things, including environmental factors, fear, and fatigue. Most often, agitation is triggered when the person experiences “control” being taken from them.

Repetitive speech or actions

People with dementia often repeat a word, statement, question, or activity. While this behavior is usually harmless for the person with dementia, it can be annoying and stressful to caregivers. Sometimes the behavior is triggered by anxiety, boredom, fear, or environmental factors.

Paranoia

Seeing a loved one suddenly become suspicious, jealous, or accusatory is unsettling. Remember, what the person is experiencing is very real to them. It is best not to argue or disagree. This, too, is part of dementia—try not to take it personally.

Sleeplessness

Restlessness, agitation, disorientation, and other troubling behavior in people with dementia often get worse at the end of the day and sometimes continue throughout the night.

Experts believe this behavior, commonly called sundowning, is caused by a combination of factors, such as exhaustion from the day’s events and changes in the person’s biological clock that confuse day and night.

Eating/Nutrition

Ensuring your loved one is eating enough nutritious foods and drinking enough fluids is challenging. People with dementia begin to forget that they need to eat and drink. Complicating the issue may be dental problems or medications that decrease appetite or make food taste “funny.” The consequences of poor nutrition are many, including weight loss, irritability, sleeplessness, bladder or bowel problems, and disorientation.

Hygiene

People with dementia often have difficulty remembering “good” hygiene, such as brushing teeth, toileting, bathing, and regularly changing their clothes. From childhood, we are taught these are highly private and personal activities; to be undressed and cleaned by another can feel frightening, humiliating, and embarrassing. As a result, bathing often causes distress for both caregivers and their loved ones.

Additional problem areas include:

  • Dressing
  • Hallucinations
  • Sexually inappropriate behavior
  • Verbal outbursts

We Can Help You Cope With These Behaviors With Our Dementia Care service in Montgomery County

If your loved one has dementia, we can help. Our professional caregivers are experienced and skilled at caring for seniors with dementia. They provide compassionate care, which allows aging adults with dementia to continue to live at home, where they’re most comfortable with familiar surroundings.

Contact us today to schedule your free in-home consultation. We’ll develop a personalized care plan that will help your loved one with age in place with dignity in the comfort of their home in Montgomery County.