Welcome to Alicia’s monthly advice column where she’ll provide tips on caring for a loved one with dementia. Alicia Seaver is the Director of Memory Care at Bridges® by EPOCH and is a certified memory impairment specialist. This month’s topic is agitation.
Feelings of agitation are common for individuals living with memory impairment. The frustration of losing control over your memory, language abilities and perceptions can be keenly felt. However, caregivers can help reduce this anxiety.
Typically, agitation is caused by feelings of frustration, confusion, fear and even exhaustion that are often a result of changes to your loved one’s environment, discomfort, physical or emotional pain, boredom or over-stimulation. To reduce or even prevent agitation, consider the following tips.
Reduce changes to environment and maintain a consistent routine. Inconsistent routines and frequent travel can be very disruptive for individuals living with dementia. Consistency is very comforting and helps your loved one feel more grounded. Inconsistency, on the other hand, can be the basis for agitation stemming from fatigue, feelings of confusion and fear.
Create a soothing living space. This includes cutting down on visual and audio distractions, and even updating your interior to promote optimal tranquility. Such features as bright lights, dementia-friendly color schemes and railings that loved ones can use for guidance coupled with clutter-free spaces can be a big help in encouraging calmness.
Encourage participation in therapeutic daily activities. There are many forms of nontraditional therapy that have been shown to be beneficial, including art, music and creative writing therapy. Painting, drawing, writing stories and listening to music are all engaging activities that stimulate your loved one’s brain while also allowing them to tap into old memories. For instance, you could play popular songs from their youth or ask them to write about memories from their childhood or early life.
Exercise and spend time outdoors. Simply going for a walk or sitting in the fresh air can do wonders for anxiety. If your home has outdoor space, I encourage you to spend time outside with your loved one when the weather is nice. If your home doesn’t have such space, consider walks to your local park or a nearby outdoor area that has seating. Walking can also help to reduce the compulsion to wander.
Frequently gauge your loved one’s comfort level. Agitation can also be the result of simply being uncomfortable, whether it’s because they are hungry, thirsty, in need of using the bathroom, or sick. Medications can contribute to feelings of discomfort, so please consult your loved one’s doctor when behavioral symptoms appear.
Respond with patience and reassurance. To counteract agitation or increasing anxiety, be as non-confrontational as you can while letting your loved one know you are there to help them and they are safe with you.
Schedule a follow-up visit with your loved one’s doctor if you worry their agitation is the result of something more severe like depression or is a side effect of their medications. Agitation can also be the result of sundowning, which I wrote about in August. While it’s perfectly normal for your loved one to feel agitated at times, by working to reduce these feelings, both you and your loved one will be able to lead happier, more fulfilling lives.
If there is a topic you would like Alicia to discuss, please send suggestions to [email protected].