Effective Ways to Calm Down Agitation in Someone With Alzheimer’s
When agitation hits, it’s alarming. Your mom may start yelling at you. You may get pushed out of the way or slapped. You may find your agitated dad starts pacing uncontrollably or keeps trying to flee the area. Agitation is a common symptom in Alzheimer’s, and it’s one that takes a little work to learn how to control the situation.
Caregiver in Winchester City VA: Agitation With Alzheimer’s
Go Through the Checklist of Triggers
Often, agitation is triggered by something. Some triggers are easy to spot, but others can be difficult to find. One of the most common triggers that is hard to spot is a urinary tract infection. If a UTI is present, agitation is a symptom you don’t always link to it. There’s no easy way to identify a UTI without going to the doctor. The best you can do is track how often your parent is using the toilet.
Triggers may be personal. If you put your mom’s favorite socks in the wash, she may be upset that she doesn’t have them. As soon as you return that beloved item to her, she’ll calm down. Absent relatives, caregivers, and pets are other triggers that may cause agitation.
Pay attention to the time of day it is when the agitation begins. If you find your dad’s agitation kicks in after dinner, he could be sundowning. Turning on lights in the house before the lighting changes might help.
Use a Distraction
Distractions work well with a moment of agitation. Your mom’s just started getting upset. Walk away and put on some music. Start dancing. You might find she joins in and forgets that she was getting agitated. You can also distract her by turning on her favorite TV show.
Redirect That Person
Redirection is something you need to master. Your mom is agitated and keeps bringing up something that frustrates her. For example, she suddenly wants a pair of shoes that she had 20 years ago that are no longer available. If you tell her those shoes were trashed long ago, she’ll get more agitated. Instead, redirect her attention to something else.
While your mom is asking where her shoes are, you could redirect her with a simple question. While her mind is on shoes, go back in time to her youth and ask her something like, “Did you ever have a pair of blue suede shoes?”
Her mind will switch focus to go back to the days the shoes and song were popular. She’ll forget what she was originally thinking about. While you have control of that moment, you can get her to put on a different pair of shoes.
Agitation is emotionally exhausting. Make sure you’re taking breaks as a family caregiver. Elder care services cover respite care. Caregivers spell you while you have time alone. Call an elder care agency and arrange respite care now.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring a Caregiver in Winchester City, VA, please contact the caring staff at LivinRite Home Care. Call Us Today at (703) 634-9991.
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