Handling behavioral problems

As AD progresses, the normal rules of behaviour and communication no longer apply. A person with AD experiences changes in personality and they lose the ability to reason logically. Changes in behaviour can be the most distressing symptoms for a carer to cope with, as well as being emotionally stressful. The tips below can help with working together with the person with AD to effectively deal with some of the most common types of behavioural problems.

• Try to recognise what triggers certain behaviour, and then try to avoid or minimise these triggers. For example, events as simple as hunger, thirst, frustration, boredom, fear or lack of privacy, can cause the reaction.
• Never punish, or react angrily to, any behaviour, however aggressive or embarrassing it may be. Such retaliation may cause more fear, confusion or distress.
• Remember that it is the disease that is causing the abnormal behaviour, and not the person.
• Respond to inappropriate behaviour by either leaving the situation to calm down for a few minutes, by giving reassurance, or by distracting the person.
• In situations of anger, aggression or delusion, don’t try to logically reason with the person – AD impairs the person’s logical thought. Comfort and distraction usually work best.
• Hallucinations are a common symptom of AD, and it can be helpful to investigate the cause. For example, seeing ‘strangers in the house’ can be the effect of mirrors (which can then be covered or moved to avoid this effect), and some medications can worsen hallucination symptoms.
• A person with AD may take to hiding their belongings, or throwing them away, and then forgetting and accusing others of having stolen them. Locating their favourite hiding places, or checking waste paper baskets, may help to cope with this behaviour.
• If necessary, restrict access to the television, or certain programmes. Some people with AD can confuse fictional events on television with real life, and this can cause fear or
  confusion.
• In cases of inappropriate sexual behaviour or undressing, try not to become embarrassed or over-react. Gentle discouragement and distraction are the best ways to manage the situation.
• Although the person with AD may be confused and have poor memory, don’t necessarily dismiss all they say as imagination, and make sure that no-one is able to take advantage of their
  poor memory.