Irritating Behaviors: Maintaining your sanity while dealing with repetition

People with dementing illnesses suffer from brain damage that affects their ability to process and remember recent events. Behaviors that are repetitive, such as asking the same question over and over, or repeating a task, are caused by the changes taking place in the brain. It can be helpful for caregivers to try to understand why the person is behaving in such a way by looking at a number of possible “triggers” that may be at work on the person with dementia. Additionally, the caregiver may need to look at his/her response to the situation and try to respond in a different manner than has been their custom.
Repetitive behaviors may be attributed to:
1 Anxiety – imagine what it would be like if you didn't recognize your surroundings as home. Many of us would feel nervous and anxious to get back to a familiar place. We, too, might ask repeatedly to go home.
2 Memory loss from dementing illness. They simply do not recall that they are repeating themselves.
3 Side effects of certain medications (particularly repetitive movements).
4 Misinterpretation of sounds or sights.
5 Separation from a loved one, causing repeated and continuous questions.

Sometimes the inability to express a need, for instance hunger, will result in repeated questions, such as, “When's dinner?” This even though the caregiver has answered the question repeatedly. Seeing a jacket on a hook by the door may trigger a repetition of “When are we going home?” — even though they are in their own home. Fiddling or pacing may indicate a need to go to the bathroom.
How do caregivers cope with their own frustration and anger at being bombarded with this behavior day after day? Caregivers might start by checking in with the Primary Care Physician to examine the patient for illness or the side effects of medications. Another tact: try distracting the person with an activity or food. Ignoring the question may also be an option, since a lack of reinforcement or discussion of the question may diminish the behavior.
Another legitimate tactic is to simply remain silent;. This allows the caretaker to stop a downward spiral where he/she conveys their own anger or frustration only to have these mirrored back by the patient's increasing agitation or anger.
Some other coping strategies might include:
• Respond to the emotion rather than the specific question. If the fiddling and pacing are constant, try taking them to the bathroom rather than asking what they need.
• Remove environmental stimuli that may be triggering the question. Close closet doors, or conceal doors that go out of the house, so the patient isn't reminded of wanting to go out.
• Do not discuss plans with the person until just prior to the event, or even on the way to an event, if this causes repeated questions.
• Try using gentle touch and a calm voice when responding or redirecting the individual.

One caregiver, frustrated with repeated, inappropriate sexual advances by her mate began comforting him by holding and rocking him, rather than pushing him away. She found it calmed him down and diminished the behaviors.

People with dementia are often troubled and usually fearful. Finding ways to comfort and reassure the individual are often crucial in the ongoing care for the patient with dementia. An added benefit would be a decrease in repetitious and irritating behaviors, which is important for the health and well-being of caregivers.
For additional information, suggestions, and resources – and for support – please do not hesitate to pick up the phone and call the chapter Helpline at 800-272-3900. We're here to help.

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zerotears

This couldn't have come at a better time for me! Thank you!

thanks

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zerotears