Tips for coping with agitation

Caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is some great information

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professionals,

Your residents will love the Amazon Kindle Fire

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here is a way for nurses administrators, social workers and other health care  professionals to get an easyceu or two

Follow alzheimersideas on twitter
The Dementia Caregiver's Little Book of Hope [Kindle Edition]

ADEAR 
As Alzheimer's progresses, people may become more agitated or aggressive. Check out 9 tips for handling it.

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Agitation means that a person is restless or worried. He or she doesn't seem to be able to settle down. Agitation may cause pacing, sleeplessness, or aggression, which is when a person lashes out verbally or tries to hit or hurt someone.

Causes of Agitation and Aggression

Most of the time, agitation and aggression happen for a reason. When they happen, try to find the cause. If you deal with the causes, the behavior may stop. For example, the person may have:

• Pain, depression, or stress
• Too little rest or sleep
• Constipation
• Soiled underwear or diaper
• Sudden change in a well-known place, routine, or person
• A feeling of loss—for example, the person may miss the freedom to drive
• Too much noise or confusion or too many people in the room
• Being pushed by others to do something—for example, to bathe or to remember
events or people—when Alzheimer's has made the activity very hard or impossible
• Feeling lonely and not having enough contact with other people
• Interaction of medicines

Look for early signs of agitation or aggression. If you see the signs, you can deal with the cause before problem behaviors start. Try not to ignore the problem. Doing nothing can make things worse. 

A doctor may be able to help. He or she can give the person a medical exam to find any problems that may cause agitation and aggression. Also, ask the doctor if medicine is needed to prevent or reduce agitation or aggression. 

Tips for Coping

Here are some ways you can cope with agitation or aggression:

1. Reassure the person. Speak calmly. Listen to his or her concerns and frustrations. Try to show that you understand if the person is angry or fearful.
2. Allow the person to keep as much control in his or her life as possible.
3. Coping with changes is hard for someone with Alzheimer's. Try to keep a routine, such as bathing, dressing, and eating at the same time each day.
4. Build quiet times into the day, along with activities.
5. Keep well-loved objects and photographs around the house to help the person feel more secure.
6. Try gentle touching, soothing music, reading, or walks.
7. Reduce noise, clutter, or the number of people in the room.
8. Try to distract the person with a favorite snack, object, or activity.
9. Limit the amount of caffeine, sugar, and "junk food" the person drinks and eats.

Here are some things you can do:

• Slow down and try to relax if you think your own worries may be affecting the person with Alzheimer's.
• Try to find a way to take a break from caregiving.

Safety Concerns

When the person is aggessive, protect yourself and others. If you have to, stay at a safe distance from the person until the behavior stops. Also try to protect the person from hurting himself or herself. 


SOURCE:

• ADEAR
  The Alzheimer's Disease Education and Referral (ADEAR) Center is a service of the National Institute on Aging, part of the National Institutes of Health. The Center offers information and publications for families, caregivers, and professionals about Alzheimer's disease and age-related cognitive changes.

"Memory Lane TV" Soothes Anxiety & Agitation in Dementia

Caregivers, and healthcare professionals,here is some great information

Here is a great dementia resource for caregivers and healthcare professionals,

Your residents will love the Amazon Kindle Fire

Here is information on being the best caregiver you can be

Here is a way for nurses administrators, social workers and other health care  professionals to get an easyceu or two

Follow alzheimersideas on twitter

The Dementia Caregiver's Little Book of Hope [Kindle Edition

SOURCE:

• WCSH6

Calm comes in handy during dementia's anxiety-ridden times. See how Memory Lane TV alleviates sundowning, smooths transitioning between activities, and soothes the changes that bring on agitation. 

see video on the right

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At "The Cedars", in the morning, before lunch and late in the afternoon, Alzheimer’s patients are shown a series of carefully crafted mini-movies. Their creator is celebrated documentary film maker Alban Maino.

Maino combines beautiful, cinematographic images with music of the era, then uses familiar, aromatic fragrances through a device similar to a “Scentsy.” The result is a three-pronged sensory experience that Alban claims brings recognition and a sense of calm to Alzheimer’s patients, who often combat agitation and confusion throughout their day. 

In one video, a clip from the movie “Singing in the Rain” plays, along with its signature theme song, while the scent of popcorn permeates the room. Alban Maino has designed each clip with expert precision. "We are using all sorts of video, soundscape, music, archival footage, and even senses, such as the olfactory stimulation. We're able to awaken people from the sense of smell." 

In another video, one that runs during the morning sessions, Maino uses sunrises, light orchestral music and the aroma of baking bread. Nick Viti says it works particularly well and is evocative with his patients. “It’s a sort of natural cue of morning time because that’s been a part of many people’s morning routines for decades, before they came to us here at The Cedars.” 

The key to the videos, Maino says, is beautiful shots that are held for much longer than traditional television. He describes these moments as dream scenes. “And a dream scene to me is a 3- to 5-minute scene that takes you and transports you through guided imagery and sort of passive meditation." 

That calm comes in handy during the more anxiety-ridden times at The Cedars, during transitions from one activity to another and particularly for patients suffering from Sundowner's Syndrome, or late-day confusion. 

Maino points out one patient, a woman who has to wear headphones with music to stay calm. Through the use of customized music and through specific films at the end of the day, those panic attacks can be managed well which, in the end, improves her quality of life. 

The program follows the natural progression of each day — three, 24-minute long videos mirror the circadian rhythm. “In the morning, we're going to use sunrises and sounds of birds and in the evening it will be sunsets over the beautiful ocean in Maine." 

And while I visited, one group was watching a Cedars' favorite right before lunch: scenes from the vibrant and familiar Fryeburg Fair. The scenery is designed to remind them or take them away and helps to keep them alert so they will eat their important, nutrition rich lunch. And the combination of beautiful fall colors, familiar farm animals and an upbeat parade has them all looking at the screen and one or two tapping their toes. 

I ask one patient how the video, music and aromas make her feel. She turns to me and says, a smile across her face, “wonderful." 

So the big question: does it work? Some of the feedback so far is that, yes, caretakers are noticing after using the Memory-Lane.TV system for a couple of weeks, Alzheimer’s patients sleep better. And the added positive feedback is they are less agitated and easier to take care of. 

Full article at: WCSH6 - Alzheimer's: Breaking through to memory