How to Treat Behaviors Caused by Alzheimer's
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive medical condition in which the nerve cells die, causing a person to become cognitively impaired. The onslaught of Alzheimer's may be sudden and quick-moving in some patients, while the increased confusion and dementia are slower in others. Behaviors that are typical of people who have Alzheimer's disease are irritability, depression, agitation or lashing out at others and experiencing hallucinations. Drug therapy as well as non-medical measures can be used to treat the behaviors caused by Alzheimer's disease.
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Things You'll Need
- Physical examination
- Journal
- Labeling system
- Extra lighting
- Medications
Instructions
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Bring your loved one to the doctor for an examination if he is beginning to exhibit new signs of Alzheimer's disease. Over time, frustration from an inability to communicate or seemingly unfamiliar situations can produce behaviors that may seem out of character or violent. A physical examination can rule out any underlying medical conditions not related to Alzheimer's that may produce similar symptoms.
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Observe when certain behaviors are occurring in your family member, and write these observations down. For example, some Alzheimer's patients become more depressed or agitated in the evenings (called the "sundown effect") when it is dark, which may be remedied by bringing in extra lighting. Others may react more strongly when a certain caretaker is around. Knowing what specific situations cause particular behaviors can make them easier to treat.
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Simplify the activities your loved one with Alzheimer's disease must perform in his everyday life. If agitation is the result of not remembering where certain items are kept, for example, label cupboards with words or pictures of the items within.
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Keep daily routines the same so the Alzheimer's patient will know what to expect. Veering from a comfortable routine can be scary and can produce uncharacteristic behaviors.
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Limit the number of visitors your family member sees in an afternoon or any other given period of time. Overstimulation can produce anger, frustration and agitation. Quiet, restful time may be a calming antidote.
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Consider using medications to treat some of the behaviors caused by Alzheimer's disease, including depression, delusion and hallucinatory visions. The Alzheimer's Association explains that antidepressants may help reduce anxiety and irritability as well as a general glumness experienced by patients with this form of dementia. Anti-psychotic drugs like olanzapine and quetiapine may put a stop to hallucinations and aggressive behaviors.
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