Behavioral Patterns
As people grow older, changes in the brain cause some decline in short-term memory and a slowing down in learning ability. There is a general decrease in cognitive powers, which affect the individual’s memory, thinking, reasoning, judgment and behavior. These changes, which occur throughout the nervous system, often cause an individual to become confused.
|
Behavior |
Description |
How to Handle the Behavior |
|
Recurring Behaviors |
Recurring behavior is doing the same act over and over ( e.g. folding a towel). |
|
|
Abnormal Sexual Behavior |
Sexual behavior may involve the wrong person, at the wrong time, in the wrong place. Or, it may involve an inappropriate action (e.g. exposing themselves or masturbating in front of others). |
|
|
Screaming |
Screaming occurs in an attempt to communicate. It can involve screaming a name, a word or simply making yelling sounds. |
|
|
Aggression |
Aggression & combativeness often occur because of restlessness or agitation (e.g. hitting, punching, biting). |
|
|
Agitation |
An agitated individual may walk back & forth, hit or yell. |
|
|
Disastrous Responses |
Disastrous responses are extreme responses, with the individual reacting as if a major disaster has occurred. |
|
|
Delusions |
Delusions area false beliefs, even when facts say differently. (e.g. An individual may think he/she is going to be murdered.) |
|
|
Hallucinations |
A hallucination is hearing, seeing smelling or feeling things that are not there. (e.g. Individuals may think snakes are in bed with them.) |
|
|
Sundowning |
Sundowning is the appearance of confusion, agitation, and other severely disruptive behavior coupled with inability to remain asleep. It occurs in the late afternoon & evening hours. |
|
|
Wandering |
Since Alzheimer’s Disease causes the individual to be disoriented in respect to person, place or time, they may become lost or use poor judgment, which compromises their safety. |
|
