Foul Language in Public

Here are some suggestions you can try when your loved one uses profanity in public places:

• Ask your loved one if he or she is uncomfortable for any reason. The inappropriate words may be a way of attracting attention to a problem such as hunger, needing to use the toilet, being bound by clothing, or being too hot or too cold.
• Calmly ask your loved one to stop using the curse words in your presence because they offend you. Let your loved one know that the language is likely to offend other people, and that using it may make it hard for him or her to get people to do what he or she wants.
• Try not to react strongly because this may reinforce the behavior. If your loved one is cursing during times of extreme discomfort, or only in private, you could just choose to accept or ignore the language.
• If the language is used in public, try explaining to others around you that your loved one's behavior is part of Alzheimer's disease. However, there are also times when you may judge it appropriate for your loved one to face the natural consequences of his or her behavior, particularly if he or she is denying any problems.
• You do not have to apologize for your loved one.
• If the language is extremely inapproriate, tell your loved one you are leaving, and he or she must come with you (remove him or her from the situation).
• Try distracting your loved one with another activity.
• Use a Behavior Triggers Journal to record the cursing incident and any triggers that may have caused it. Also note what you did to successfully end the foul language. The next time a cursing episode occurs, you can refer to your Journal for a remedy that works.