Agitation is a common emotion that every human experiences. To the person who is living with Alzheimer’s, agitation is often the result of unmet needs or frustrations they are unable to express. This article expands on five areas that contribute to agitation and provides suggestions on how to best assess what is going on and how to cope with the agitation positively.

The Person

Dementia Patient with caregiver

Many professionals working with individuals with dementia believe that behind every behavior exhibited, there is a cause or reason. Malcolm Goldsmith of the UK Journal of Dementia Care said, “If we spent as much time trying to understand behavior as we spend trying to manage and control it, we might discover what lies behind it is a genuine attempt to communicate.”

When agitation is displayed, stop and validate the person’s feelings: “You seem upset, can you tell me what is wrong?” This simple question could help de-escalate a difficult situation.

The most common time when agitation is evident is during personal care. The person with dementia may feel as if he or she has lost his or her sense of dignity. When providing personal care, start by briefly explaining what will happen: “I am going to help you wash your hair, doesn’t it feel good to have clean hair?” Be sure to give explanations in a gentle tone during each step and do not rush. Rushing will almost always lead to agitation and make the day more difficult for both of you.

Be sure to offer affirmations throughout the day, such as: “Thank you for helping me pick out those clothes. You look beautiful today.” “You did a great job at setting the table.”

Often agitation is sparked by fear. Use a gentle touch and soft-spoken and positive words throughout all tasks, reminding the person with dementia that he or she is in a safe place. Remember to:

  • Validate the person’s feelings.
  • Offer care with dignity.
  • Do not rush.
  • Offer affirming statements.

Communication

Good communication is an important part of any relationship. When caring for a person with dementia, the ability to communicate becomes more and more difficult. Both expressing and processing information become impaired. This inability to express and process can be frustrating and manifest itself as agitation. Agitation can be anything from pacing to lashing out. As caregivers, we want to prevent this reaction as much as possible by communicating effectively and allowing the person time to process and respond.

The following tips will improve communication:

  • Approach from the front to prevent startling and identify yourself.
  • Maintain eye contact.
  • Lower the tone of your voice, a high pitch may indicate you are upset.
  • Smile and be pleasant.
  • Speak slowly, clearly, calmly, and directly.
  • Use short, simple sentences and only ask one question at a time.
  • Eliminate background noise.
  • Give plenty of time to respond. If he or she cannot find words, gently finish the sentence.
  • Repeat information when needed – repetition is good.
  • Allow choices when possible, for example, “Coffee or milk?” “Blue or yellow shirt?”
  • Use a gentle touch.
  • Give hugs many times a day.
  • Don’t argue – you’ll never win. If your talk becomes “heated,” stop. Leave the room briefly and try again later.
  • Laugh together. Don’t talk down.
  • Don’t correct him or her.
  • Don’t demand. Ask nicely.
  • Don’t take adverse behavior personally.

Non-Verbal Communication

Non-verbal communication is important to be aware of, both what we are communicating to our loved ones, and what they are communicating to us. Non-verbal communication can be processed and expressed by persons with dementia through body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice. They are sensitive to how you communicate with them and able to determine if you are sincere or not.

Interpreting non-verbal communication

When your loved one takes off their shirt in public…

He or she may be expressing that they are too warm. Try putting lighter clothing on and something difficult to take off independently.

When your loved one has a grimace look on their face…

He or she may be experiencing pain somewhere. Look at their position and ask if they hurt anywhere.

When your loved one firmly holds her mouth closed when you’re feeding them…

He or she may not be hungry. Try feeding later.

When your loved one cries when you walk out of the room…

They may be expressing fear of being alone. Try giving them an object to hold, such as a stuffed animal when you leave the room and assure them you will be back.

Pain Management

Pain occurs in a cycle:

Pain…Anxiety…Fatigue…Depression…Pain…Anxiety… Fatigue…Depression…and so on.

If a person with dementia is in this cycle, and unable to communicate, you may have to step in and figure out what the problem is. There are many possible causes of the pain, including infection, joint and muscle problems, inflammation, headaches, etc. If your loved one has a history of any of these conditions, continue with treatment as ordered by a physician. 

Continue to have your loved one’s overall health assessed by routine exams to determine any condition that could cause pain or discomfort. Before the appointment, inform the physician about your observations. If your loved one takes medication, be aware of the possibility that some medications can cause agitation. 

Always consult your physician if you have questions or concerns. For the caregiver, the issue of overall care management is a constant guessing game of assessing and responding to the needs of their loved one as well as possible.

Environment

The environment includes the circumstances and conditions that surround us. It plays a large role in human behavior. It is important to create a safe and comfortable environment for the person with dementia. The following areas need to be assessed for optimal comfort:

  • Temperature: too hot or too cold.
  • Lighting: too bright or too dim.
  • Walkways/hallways: too cluttered.
  • Noise: too loud, too much.
  • People: comfort with those who are around.

Look for patterns of agitation, such as whether it comes on with the time of day, particular activities or events, children visiting, or bathing. When you notice the pattern, readjust your schedule to meet the dementia person’s needs.

Agitation, Summary, and Conclusion

The use of “Behavior Acceptance '' when dealing with a dementia person means looking beyond the behavior to the core of the problem causing the behavior. Look to correct the problem, which typically will adjust the behavior. Always remember that as individuals, we all need to be loved. The person with dementia needs to feel loved, safe, secure, needed, useful, and a part of the environment. We must provide this for them by showing them love, and inclusion, and allowing them to help in whatever way they can.

The person with dementia is not able to change. So you as the caregiver must adapt. Constantly assess how you can better respond to a situation or behavior positively.

Call us at 919-500-7757. One of our friendly Client Welcome Specialists will be happy to tell you more about The Alzheimer’s Planning Center and our unique Memory Safeguard Planning, to help you determine the best path forward, and to help you take the next steps toward a more secure future and a better life.