Managing Odd Behaviors

Changes in the brain that are associated with Alzheimer's disease can lead to unusual and unpredictable thinking and behavior. For example, your loved one may become anxious around family members, neighbors, or friends whom he or she may not recognize, or in situations that stray from the normal routine. Your loved one may also become suspicious and suffer from delusions (false ideas that a person firmly believes and strongly maintains in spite of contradictory evidence). He or she may also begin to withdraw from social interaction, wander, become aggressive, and/or become angry and irritable.

Here are a few suggestions to help minimize and manage these unusual behaviors:

• Try to preserve your loved one's abilities, especially those that affect dignity (such as eating and using the toilet) rather than try to teach new skills.
• Try to minimize any changes in the surroundings or to your loved one's daily routine.
• Follow simple routines and avoid situations that require your loved one to make decisions. Having to make choices can be very frustrating and cause anxiety for a person with Alzheimer's disease.

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Behavior Management Tools








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Health Management Aids