How Does Alzheimer’s Affect Behavior?
In addition to thinking and memory problems, people with Alzheimer’s may experience symptoms such as agitation, trouble sleeping, and hallucinations. They may wander, pace, and behave in unusual ways. These problems can make your job as a caregiver harder. It is important to remember that the disease, not the person with Alzheimer’s, causes these changes.
Common behavior changes in Alzheimer's include:
- Showing signs of anxiety or fear
- Getting upset, worried, and angry more easily
- Acting depressed or not interested in things
- Hiding things or believing other people are hiding things
- Imagining things that are not there
- Hitting other people
As a caregiver, you may find it helpful to consider whether changes are caused by the disease itself or something else, such as the environment. However, figuring out the cause of a behavior change is not always easy. Keeping track of common behavioral changes can help you recognize a pattern and determine the cause of the behavioral change.
Tips to Manage Behavioral Changes
- Be patient, try not to show frustration, and avoid arguing.
- Reassure the person that you are there to help
- Redirect their attention to a new object or activity, such as listening to music, reading a book or going for a walk.
- Try to keep your loved one on a routine by bathing, dressing, and eating at the same time each day.
- Find ways for your loved one to be physically active, which can improve mood and sleep.
