At some point, seniors with dementia display behaviors that aren’t typically characteristic of their personalities. They might become unusually sad, angry, aggressive, or frustrated, and the events may occur for a variety of reasons. You have the ability to calm your older loved one using different techniques that don’t include medications.
Stay Calm
The unusual behavior your loved one displays may initially catch you off guard. However, remaining calm is important. An overreaction increases the risk of exacerbating the behavior. Speak in a quiet tone and make eye contact. A soothing pat on the hand or a gentle arm around a shoulder conveys he or she has your attention. The caring actions may be enough to encourage a more calm demeanor.
If your senior loved one has been diagnosed with a serious condition and needs help with tasks like meal prep, transportation, bathing, and grooming, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of in-home care families can trust. We also offer comprehensive care for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.
Remove Distractions
Turn off the TV or radio. Let your loved one know he or she has your full attention, and don’t be distracted in the moment. If in a public location when the event occurs, gently guide your loved one to a quiet, less crowded space to have a conversation.
Determine the Possible Cause
Your loved one may be exhibiting unpleasant behavior for a specific reason. Consider your loved one may need to use the bathroom but, because of dementia, he or she isn’t able to clearly express the need. Also, your loved one might be hungry or thirsty or experiencing some type of discomfort or pain. After you determine the underlying cause and remedy the situation, your parent is likely to feel relieved and become calmer. The longer you spend time with your loved one, the more you become familiar with situations or events that might trigger negative behaviors.
Use Diversion
If calmly talking doesn’t reveal the immediate cause and the behavior doesn’t seem to change, try diversionary tactics. Ask your loved one to help with a simple task. Perhaps he or she might be willing to take a walk around the block. Other techniques might involve playing your loved one’s favorite song or style of music. As dementia affects short-term memory at varying degrees, distraction could cause your parent to forget why he or she was upset.
Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of at-home care. Montgomery families can rely on Home Care Assistance to provide individualized care plans to meet your elderly loved one’s unique care needs. Our holistic Balanced Care Method was designed to help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and our Cognitive Therapeutics Method offers mentally stimulating activities that can stave off cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia.
Play Music
Play music familiar to your loved one. Music has been shown to stimulate dopamine production, which has mood-elevating ability. Listening to music stimulates the memory regions of the brain. Encourage your loved one to share memories associated with the music.
Try Aromatherapy
Certain scents have been shown to induce a sense of calm. Lavender, in particular, has been shown to instill calmness while enhancing concentration and sleep. Candles that emit scents of baking foods or holiday smells might also enhance calmness while encouraging the opportunity to reminisce.
Dementia can make life challenging for seniors, but they can maintain a higher quality of life with the help of professional caregivers. Certain age-related conditions can make it more challenging for seniors to age in place safely and comfortably, but Montgomery 24-hour care experts are available around the clock to help seniors manage their health. Whether your loved one is living with dementia or is recovering from a stroke, you can trust the professional live-in caregivers from Home Care Assistance to enhance his or her quality of life. Home Care Assistance can be your trusted partner when your loved one needs help with the challenges of aging. Call us today at (334) 593-3988 to learn about our high-quality in-home care services.