It’s never easy to watch a parent or loved one struggle with Alzheimer’s or Dementia. Harder still, is not knowing how to handle their behaviors. How can you mitigate their confusion? How should you react to unexpected anger or aggression towards you? How do you communicate with them? This Slideshare from Colonial At Home, part of Community First Solutions, will help answer those questions.

1. UNDERSTANDING
DEMENTIA
It’s never easy to watch a parent or loved one struggle with Alzheimer’s or
Dementia. This Slideshare from Colonial At Home, part of Community First
Solutions, will help answer those questions.
This slide share
first appeared on
www.YourTimeBC.org

2. UNDERSTANDING DEMENTIA
Common Behaviors:
• Anger and Depression
• Repetition
• Memory Loss
• Anxiety
• Suspicion and Delusions
• Depression
• Wandering

3. HOW TO HANDLE ANGRY OR
AGITATED BEHAVIOR:
1. Understand that you cannot change the person.
Changing your behavior or the physical environment
can help. Eliminate noise or background distraction.
2. Check with a doctor. The person could be reacting
to pain or a negative side effect of new medications.
3. Monitor physical distress. Ask if they are in pain,
thirsty, hungry or need to use the restroom.
4. Listen and reassure. Find out what is causing the
irritation, even if it does not make sense to you and use
calming and reassuring phrases like “you’re safe here.”

4. HOW TO HANDLE PARANOIA:
1. Avoid arguing. Understand that accusations and
suspicions are a part of the dementing illness.
2. Use nonverbal reassurance. Try a gentle hug or touch.
3. Distract them. If they are worried about a “lost” item,
help them look for it and then distract them with
another activity. Show them pictures of your kids,
or point out a news article they might like.
4. Allow them to keep small amounts of money in a
handbag or wallet. Often, people struggling with
dementia will suspect money is missing or being
stolen because they no longer manage their finances.

5. HOW TO HANDLE DEPRESSION:
1. Exercise together. Go for a walk, especially in the
morning.
2. Make a list of places or people or activities that this
person enjoys, and incorporate it into their schedule.
Take them to their favorite restaurant, a Broadway
musical, bingo or a sporting event.
3. Reassure the person that they are loved and
respected.

6. HOW TO HANDLE REPETITION:
1. Stay calm and be patient. You may hear the same
question multiple times in one car ride or visit.
2. Give an answer. Answer the person’s questions, even if
you have to repeat it many times.
3. Use memory aids. You may hear the same question
over and over again. Use notes, clocks, calendars or
photographs to prompt the answer even when you are
not there.

7. ASK FOR HELP.
1. Sometimes, it takes an army. Involve other family
members and friends who are willing. Make sure you
are answering questions in the same way, and taking
turns with the care.
2. In-home care is also an option. Many organizations
provide caregivers who are specifically trained to
handle Alzheimer’s and Dementia.
3. Home-care organizations can provide a much-needed
break for family caregivers, even if it’s just for a few
hours a day.

8. ABOUT COLONIAL AT HOME
Colonial At Home provides an array of services
to support you or your loved one with maintaining
independence.
Part of the Community First Solutions family of
services, Colonial At Home extends the quality of the
Colonial continuing care retirement communities to
the privacy of your own home.
For more information, please call (513) 889-2461.
Community First Solutions is the non-profit parent company of Colonial,
Community Behavioral Health, Community First Pharmacy and Partners in Prime.