How to cope with agitation in your loved one who has Alzheimer’s by William G. Hammond, JD

Many times, understanding the meaning of a word can give us great insight into the issue at hand.

What is agitation?

·Extreme emotional disturbance. (The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language)

·A stirring up or arousing; disturbance of tranquility; disturbance of mind that shows itself by physical excitement. (Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary).

·A mental state of extreme emotional disturbance, the feeling of being agitated; not calm. (WorldNet 1.6).

Many Alzheimer’s patients experience agitation in addition to memory loss. In the early stages of the illness, people with Alzheimer’s may encounter changes in their personality, such as irritability, anxiety or even depression. But as the disease progresses, these symptoms can worsen and become more difficult to live with. They may include sleep disturbances, delusions and hallucinations. Many times Alzheimer's patients cannot get in touch with or express their feelings. So when they experience agitation, it is often difficult for the caregivers to understand and to help.

When a person with dementia displays agitation or other “symptoms,” you must try to determine what they are trying to communicate.

Good communication is an important part of any relationship. When caring for a person with dementia, the ability to communicate becomes more and more difficult. Both expressing and processing information becomes impaired. This inability to express and process can be frustrating and can manifest itself as agitation.

Following are some suggestions that may allow you to improve your communication with your loved one who has Alzheimer's:

·Approach from the front to prevent startling him or her.

·Maintain eye contact.

·Lower the tone of your voice. A high pitch may indicate that you are upset.

·Smile and be pleasant.

·Talk with a calm presence.

·Speak slowly, clearly and directly.

·Identify yourself.

·Use short, simple sentences.

·Ask one question at a time.

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BIO:

William G. Hammond, JD is a nationally known elder law attorney and founder of The Alzheimer’s Resource Center. He is a frequent guest on radio and television and has developed innovative solutions to guide families who have a loved one suffering from Alzheimer’s. For more information you can visit his website at www.BeatAlzheimers.com

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