Verbal Communication:
- Talk with the person, not at the person
- Be an active listener
- Allow for expression of the persons feelings and share your understanding of the situation
- Avoid arguing
- Avoid attempts to reason with the person
- Do not assume that the person understands what you are trying to tell them
- Listen to the responses from the person
Non-Verbal Communication:
- Avoid sudden movements
- Use slow and deliberate gestures when appropriate
- Use touch judiciously
- Speak with a calm and soothing voice
- Do not use actions that the person may interpret as threatening
- Sit when speaking rather than standing over the person
Environment
- Allow personal space
- Allow privacy
- Use signs on bathroom, bedroom
- Install motion detector lights
- Use lighting especially early in the morning and in the evening
Social
- Pet therapy
- Recreational activities
- Music therapy
- Art therapy
- Dance therapy
- Outdoors supervised walks
- Late afternoon walks to help alleviate sun downing
Agitation:
- Music
- Audiotapes of family members
- Hand massage and / or therapeutic touch
- Aromatherapy, decrease white noise, exercise
Wandering:
- Frequent reassurance that the person is safe and at home
- Do not try reasoning
- Consider electronic bracelets, identification bracelets, or alarm systems
- Locks on doors
Repetitive Behaviors
- Respond in a positive manner; use distraction
- Try a meaningful task for the person
- Give positive feedback for appropriate behavior
- Try to involve the person in a simple task (folding laundry)
Inappropriate Sexual Behavior
- If the person has removed clothing, calmly redress
- If masturbating avoid confrontation
- Try to identify what situation preceded the behavior
Bathing:
- Care Giver to remain calm and relaxed
- Music may help
Preventing Symptoms:
- Stop relying on recent memory; work with long term memory
- Provide consistency in routine and environment
- Learn about the persons past. Keep things simple
- Remove distractions. Adjust expectations
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