What Are the Best Ways to Find the Triggers Behind Challenging Behaviors?

Elderly Care in Reston VA: Challenging Behaviors And Your Senior

Challenging behaviors might seem as if they pop up out of nowhere for your aging family member, but in reality, there is almost always a cause. You just have to find it. Depending on how advanced your elderly family member’s dementia is, simply asking doesn’t always get you the answers you need.

Examine What Happened Right Before the Behavior Started

No matter what the behavior is, take a moment to rewind a bit and think carefully about what happened right before the behavior started. You don’t have to go very far back, usually, since triggers usually happen within just a few minutes of the behavior ramping up. In some cases, the trigger might not be obvious, so don’t let this overwhelm you.

Ask if Physical Needs Have Been Met

One of the least obvious triggers can be some of your aging adult’s physical needs. Ask yourself if your elderly family member has eaten recently, whether she might need the bathroom, or if she might be tired or thirsty. Exhausting that list can help you to narrow down the potential causes.

Make Note of the Time of Day

Afternoon and evening can bring about sundowning, which is an umbrella term for confusion and behaviors that tend to recur at the end of the day. Some aging adults have difficulty with the morning and therefore might exhibit more challenging behaviors then. If you’re having trouble determining if the time of day could be an issue, start keeping a simple log that can help you to spot patterns.

Consider the Time of Year and the Current Weather as Well

Beyond physical factors and the time of day, other factors can contribute to challenging behaviors, too. Everything from the current weather to the time of year it is can all have an influence. For example, if the weather is rainy, your aging adult may not be able to get her regular walk in, making her more agitated and prone to wandering. Winter months lead to shorter days, which can be disorienting.
If you’re still having trouble, don’t forget to talk to your elderly family member’s doctor about what’s going on. Another big help can be hiring home care providers who have experience with dementia patients.

Are you or a loved-one considering elderly care in Reston, VA?  Please call the caring staff at Medical Professionals On Call today.
Contact: 703-273-8818

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Michelle DeFilippis

I graduated with a BS degree and had been selling medical equipment to hospitals, clinics and technicians. More recently, a family member was diagnosed with dementia and we, as a family, realized we were not prepared t care for her. We were thrown into that whirlpool of hospital stays, 24/7 live-in care, skilled care, caring for mom ourselves and finally, now daily home care. This was such a stressful time that I started thinking there had to be other people, other families as overwhelmed and unprepared as we were.

Medical Professionals On Call has such a caring, professional staff who are available to step in with whatever level of care necessary for loved ones and to relieve you of that stress.

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