Potential Causes of Behavior Problems

Symptoms of dementia can cause a flood of emotions and physical reactions, which can manifest in behavioral problems. Understanding the cause and effect can help family and professional caregivers cope better with situations that may arise.

Reaction to Loss:

We all rely on input from our environment to guide us in activities and relationships. An individual with dementia has lost both the benefit of such input and the ability to inform us of their internal world. This absence causes fear, insecurity and frustration, which may present in the form of aggression and agitated behavior.

Some Suggestions:

• Provide reassurance.
• Speak in a calm voice.
• Promote a sense of security and comfort.

Inability to Meet Basic Needs:

As a result of cognitive impairment and psychiatric symptoms, a person's basic needs might not be met. The resulting hunger, dehydration, elimination problems and fatigue can produce behavioral changes. Individuals with dementia may stay hungry because of, for example, their inability to feed themselves, depression or loss of muscle coordination. They may show their discomfort through agitated and aggressive behavior.

Likewise, they may forget how to pour water into a cup or never ask for a drink due to their inability to communicate. Dehydration can lead to urinary tract infection, constipation and fever—putting individuals at a high risk for delirium and consequently more behavioral problems.

Similarly, an individual may forget where or what the bathroom is, and eventually may not recognize the internal cues for urination or a bowel movement. Elimination problems may manifest in the form of agitation, aggression, wandering, pacing, and incontinence. Compounding this, they may develop urinary tract infections or constipation which, left untreated, could result in delirium.

Lastly, someone with dementia may get tired easily because of wandering, pacing and disruption of the sleep-wake cycle. Fatigue often leads to irritability and aggression.

Some Suggestions:

• Offer verbal and physical assistance during meals.
• Serve foods that the individual likes.
• Provide adequate snacks and supplements.
• Prevent distraction during meals by rearranging the environment
• Serve pre-cut or finger food if using utensils becomes difficult.
• Consult with a healthcare professional about swallowing problems.
• Schedule fluid intake to ensure six to eight glasses of liquid per day.
• Avoid coffee, tea beverages with caffeine that act as diuretics.
• Establish a routine for using the toilet, such as assisting them to the bathroom every two hours.
• A commode, obtained at any medical supply store, can be left in the bedroom at night for easy access.
• Put up signs (with illustrations) to indicate the bathroom door.
• Use easy-to-remove clothing, such as those with elastic waistbands.
• Try soothing music or a massage to induce sleep.
• Reduce environmental stimuli.
• Encourage short periods of napping to prevent exhaustion.

Co-Existing Medical Problems:

Pain and discomfort from a medical problem (i.e., dental pain, urinary tract infection) or medication side effects can go unnoticed because of the individual's inability to report it due to poor memory and/or loss of verbal skills. In addition, caregivers may have difficulty gauging the individual's pain because they do not respond to questions. As a result, these individuals may not receive necessary medication or treatment. Those who are in pain and discomfort tend to exhibit verbal and physical aggression, restlessness, wandering and pacing behaviors.

Some Suggestions:

• Become familiar with the person's medical history.
• Assess their non-verbal behavior to help identify the cause of distress.
• Watch for signs of urinary tract infection and other medical conditions.
• Monitor medications for side effects.

Co-Existing Psychiatric Disorders:

Individuals with a previous diagnosis of psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, depression or mania, and those with mental retardation are likely to exhibit more behavioral problems when they develop dementia than other individuals without psychiatric illnesses. Those with hallucinations or delusions and who are depressed or manic tend to exhibit more aggressive and agitated behavior.

Some Suggestions:

• Consult with your physician about available medications, such as anti-depressants, anti-psychotics and other mood stabilizers, to control symptoms.
• Provide reassurance.
• Distract and redirect with other activities.

Environmental Factors:

Excessive noise, poor or glaring lighting and cold temperature in the home or a long-term care facility, and overcrowding in a group setting can increase agitation, screaming and aggressive behavior. Any change in the environment or routines, such as bathing and eating, can cause frustration and agitation. As well, boredom that results from lack of activities, and conflicts among residents in a group setting can manifest in behavioral changes.

Some Suggestions:

• Reduce excess stimuli, such as the TV or radio.
• Elevate the room temperature.
• Ensure adequate lighting.
• Carefully and gradually introduce changes in routine or the environment.
• Provide activities that are simple and creative.
• In a group setting, staff should anticipate the characteristics of each resident and adjust the environment accordingly.

Sensory Impairment:

Individuals with hearing or visual impairments tend to be more paranoid, hallucinate more, and feel more frightened and frustrated. For example, those with poor eyesight may not eat their food or they may be at risk for falls.

Some Suggestions:

• Assess vision and hearing.
• Ensure that individuals who wear glasses or hearing aids have them in place.
• Evaluate problems such as cataracts, glaucoma or other eye diseases, and correct them with surgery, if feasible, or by creative environmental changes.

Factors Related to the Caregiver:

A caregiver's attitude and knowledge of dementia affect the care of individuals with the disease. The more one knows about dementia, the less likely they will be to resent certain behavioral problems. Individuals usually respond to a caregiver's mood and behavior accordingly.

Some Suggestions:

• Become educated about the disease.
• Learn effective communication techniques and how to cope with specific behavioral challenges.
• Use a calm tone of voice combined with physical touch to convey reassurance.
• Be patient and kind.
• Take care of your own physical and mental health.
• Remember that behavior problems result from the disease. Do not take things that the person says and does personally; it is the disease speaking.

For more information, please go to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America website.