Alzheimer's disease and related dementias can cause a person to act in different and unpredictable ways. Some individuals with Alzheimer's become anxious or aggressive. Others repeat certain questions and gestures. Many misinterpret what they see or hear.

These types of reactions can lead to misunderstanding, frustration and tension, particularly between the person with dementia and the caregiver. It is important to understand that the person is not acting that way on purpose.

In this section, find tips to respond to the following behaviours:

• Aggression
• Agitation
• Confusion
• Hallucinations
• Repetition
• Sleeplessness
• Suspicion
• Unpredictable Situations
• Wandering


Aggression:

• Introduction
• Causes
• How to respond
• More information


Introduction:
Aggressive behaviours may be verbal (shouting, name-calling) or physical (hitting, pushing). These behaviours can occur suddenly, with no apparent reason, or can result from a frustrating situation. Whatever the case, it is try to understand what is causing the person to become angry or upset.

Possible causes:
Aggression can be caused by many factors including physical discomfort, environmental factors and poor communication. If the person is aggressive, consider the following:

Physical discomfort:
• Is the person tired because of inadequate rest or sleep?
• Are medications causing side effects?
• Is the person unable to let you know he or she is experiencing pain?

Environmental factors
• Is the person over-stimulated by loud noises, an overactive environment or physical clutter?
• Does the person feel lost?

Poor communication:
• Are you asking too many questions or making too many statements at once?
• Are your instructions simple and easy to understand?
• Is the person picking up on your own stress and irritability?
• Are you being negative or critical?