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Coping With Dementia-Related Repetitive Actions

How to handle speech and activity fixations when they occur in patients

By Family Caregiver Alliance

A person with dementia may fixate on a word, question, statement or activity and repeat it over and over. Sometimes the behavior is triggered by anxiety, boredom, fear or environmental factors.

While harmless for the person repeating the word or action, this behavior can be troublesome or stressful for those caring for the person with dementia. Fortunately, there are some ways to distract the person and break the repetitive action.

  •     Provide plenty of reassurance and comfort, both in words and in touch.‬
  •     Try distracting the person with a snack or activity.‬
  •     Avoid reminding them that they just asked the same question.
  •     Try ignoring the behavior or question and distract the person into an activity.‬
  •     Don’t discuss plans with a confused person until immediately prior to an event.‬
  •     Place a sign on the kitchen table, such as, “Dinner is at 6:30” or “Lois comes home at 5:00” to remove anxiety and uncertainty about anticipated events.‬
  •     Learn to recognize certain behaviors. An agitated state or pulling at clothing, for example, could indicate a need to use the bathroom.‬

More:
Handle dementia-related behaviors with compassion

By Family Caregiver Alliance

MissionFamily Caregiver Alliance is a public voice for caregivers, illuminating the daily challenges they face, offering them the assistance they so desperately need and deserve, and championing their cause through education, services, research and advocacy.    Who We Are Founded in 1977, Family Caregiver Alliance was the first community-based nonprofit organization in the country to address the needs of families and friends providing long-term care at home. Long recognized as a pioneer in health services, the alliance offers programs at national, state and local levels to support and sustain caregivers.National, State and Local Programs Uniting research, policy and practice, the alliance established the National Center on Caregiving to advance the development of high-quality, cost effective programs and policies for caregivers in every state in the country. The National Center on Caregiving sponsors the Family Care Navigator to help caregivers locate support services in their communities. Family Caregiver Alliance also oversees Link2Care, an Internet support and information system for clients of California's system of Caregiver Resource Centers and operates the Bay Area Caregiver Resource Center in the six-county San Francisco Bay Area. In that capacity, the alliance's staff social workers work closely with families caring for ill or elderly loved ones. Our services, education programs and publications are developed with their expressed needs in mind, to offer real support, essential information, and tools to manage the complex and demanding tasks of caregiving.

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