What is dementia? According to the standards of the World Health Organization, many developed countries have officially entered the “senior society”, that is, the elderly population over the age of 65 accounts for 14% of the total population.

The phenomenon of population ageing has led to an increase in diseases related to the elderly, and dementia is one of them. Patients have drastic changes in mood and behaviour, and will feel uncomfortable. Those responsible for care, whether it is a hospital nursing staff or relatives and friends of patients, will also work hard, and must carefully and patiently take care of patients’ daily life.

Caring for a person with dementia is not easy, but as long as there is a considerable understanding of dementia and appropriate ways to help the patient, there will be a better relationship between the caregiver and the patient.

Eight major behavioural changes in people with dementia

1. Refusal to help

Some people with dementia are reluctant to accept help from others, or only allow specific people to help them. This may be because they do not trust others, or because of cognitive confusion. At this time, you can show kindness and tell the person with dementia that someone they trust will return soon; until then, you can help solve the problem. Or people with dementia are more out of control and want to do something by themselves. You can try to give them other instructions, and you can do other tasks simultaneously and complete some tasks together.

2. Love to hide things

People with dementia will hide some things as collections, which is actually harmless and does not need to be specifically corrected, unless their behaviour is excessive or harmful. You can usually lock some wardrobes or cabinets that are not used often, if the dementia person has a new place to hide things.

3. To ask or do something repeatedly

Sometimes the demented person will ask again and again, or do something repeatedly. If these things are not dangerous and the demented person feels more comfortable, let them do it! If inappropriate behaviour occurs, then try to get the demented person to do harmless and meaningful things.

4. Sleep disorders

People with dementia may not be able to sleep, or often sleep during the day and stay awake at night. You can use natural or artificial light to remind patients when it is day and night, allowing them to sleep when it is time to sleep. Blocking out light and noise can also help people with dementia sleep. Also, give them some simple exercises during the day to help them fall asleep at night.

5. Swearing or dirty words

People with dementia may start to swear some unpleasant words, because their ability to control their impulses is reduced. At this time, you can try to divert their attention, such as changing the topic, or letting them watch their favourite TV programs to distract them. Stop swearing.

6. Wander around

Many people with dementia will walk around. It may be that they are bored, want to relieve anxiety, or thirsty, hungry, or even wander around because of confusion in their brains.

Please pay close attention to every move of the patient. Do not leave them alone, you can tie them a love bracelet for the elderly with dementia, a love tag or a tracking device. Alternatively, you can extrapolate the times when the person with dementia will wander around and plan activities for them during that time.

7. Urinary and faecal Incontinence

This can happen because people with dementia have reduced bladder and bowel control, or they don’t remember to use the toilet, where it is, how to use it, etc. Solutions include: having people with dementia live in a room close to the toilet, having them go to the toilet regularly, wearing easy-to-remove clothing or wrapping diapers.

8. Rough behaviour

Sometimes people with dementia have verbal and physical rough behaviour, such as screaming, pinching, pulling hair, biting, etc. This may be their way of expressing what they want and want to do. Don’t yell at them at this time, let yourself calm down first, try to understand their feelings, and let them express their thoughts. If people with dementia are irritable because they are not doing something well, help them divide the things to be done into simpler small tasks.

Four common mood changes in people with dementia

1. Getting angry easily

People with dementia feel fear and stress when they are in an unfamiliar environment, and they feel frustrated when they need to deal with difficult things but cannot. If others try to help them, they will be angry, afraid, frustrated, embarrassed, and these emotions can make patients feel angry. You can try breaking things down into smaller steps, letting the patient do it on their own, without rushing to help, and allowing them to speak their minds.

2. Melancholy

People with dementia will feel depressed and lonely because they feel disconnected from society. They may have symptoms of depression, including mood changes, delusions, anxiety, etc. You can seek the help of a professional doctor to make the patient as active and social as possible.

3. Anxiety and dependence

People with dementia feel uneasy when they are in a new environment or meet people they don’t know. Some dementia suffer from insomnia, restlessness, or dependence on their familiar people or environments when they are anxious. At this time, you need to let them know how much you care about them and give them a sense of security. You can also try to distract them by doing other things, and forget to worry about the previous things.

4. Mood changes

People with dementia sometimes feel depressed because of poor performance, or simply feel scared, confused, tired, or have mood changes because they feel cold, hungry, or bored. To cope with such a situation, it is necessary to understand what the dementia person likes and dislikes, what calms them down, and when they will explode emotionally. After knowing these, you will understand how to avoid making the patient have bad emotions. If it is true, when emotions explode, you will also know how to appease them.

Caregivers need to adjust their mood and less pressure

Caregivers face many emotional and behavioural changes and spend a lot of time with the person with dementia. Sometimes you may feel angry, lose your own life and time, or feel frustrated because the patient’s condition has not improved, feel you are not doing well, feel discouraged, or you may not want to continue caring and become impatient with the patient. Sometimes I feel guilty towards the patient for having these thoughts.

In fact, there is no need to feel guilty. It is normal to have some negative thoughts. After all, the caregivers are also physically and mentally exhausted to take care of the patients. You have to tell yourself that you are only one person, and you have to be busy with many things. It is impossible to do everything perfectly. You just need to do your best. You also have to have a concept: you have already done a good job. For people with dementia, if they have someone to care for them, they already have effective medicine against dementia.

Seven ways to take care of dementia without panic!

Caring for someone with dementia is not easy. It takes a lot of time and patience. Here are some tips for caring for people with dementia:

1. 1. When communicating with patients, use simple words and sentences. Speak slowly and clearly. Don’t speak loudly to the patient. If you don’t understand it once, explain it again. If you still don’t understand it, wait a while and try again.
   2. Focus on how the patient is feeling, and speak to them in a gentle and supportive tone. Hold their hand, hug or compliment them.
   3. Let the patient get enough nutrition, avoid eating refined sugar, and eat more vegetables.
   4. Patients can still go out and have fun, please take them outside for a walk!
   5. Caregivers themselves should also take good care of their health. It is best to exercise every day.
   6. Patients do have emotional memories, even if they forget what caused them to feel a certain emotion. The caregiver’s words and deeds will affect the patient’s emotions, so pay attention to what you say and do.
   7. Setting a daily routine, schedule, helps reduce confusion and frustration in the patient’s mind.

Related Topics

3 Ways to Effectively Prevent Dementia!

Want to Prevent Brain Aging! You Need Exercise

Reference

About Dementia – NHS

Dementia guide – NHS

What Is Dementia? Symptoms, Types, and Diagnosis – NIH

Dementia – World Health Organization (WHO)

Books For Taking Care of Dementia

Understanding Behaviour in Dementia that Challenges

The innovative Newcastle Challenging Behaviour Model for dementia care has recently been updated, leading to new advances in the field. This revised second edition guide to assessment and treatment of behaviours that challenge associated with dementia includes these latest developments along with new sections on what have traditionally been considered controversial topics.

Contented Dementia

Dementia is a little understood and currently incurable illness, but much can be done to maximise the quality of life for people with the condition. Contented Dementia – by clinical psychologist and bestselling author Oliver James – outlines a groundbreaking and practical method for managing dementia that will allow both sufferer and carer to maintain the highest possible quality of life, throughout every stage of the illness.

Excellence in Dementia Care

Research Into Practice (UK Higher Education OUP Humanities & Social Sciences Health & Social Welfare). A comprehensive text on dementia care, drawn from research evidence, practice and the experience of people with dementia. 

A comprehensive text on dementia care, drawn from research evidence, practice and the experience of people with dementia.

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