Among the most disturbing behavior symptoms of dementia is when a senior cries out for help or screams uncontrollably. It can be a frightening thing to witness and cause distress to caregivers. When the behavior occurs, it can be helpful to have some insight into why it may be happening and what to do about it.
Possible Causes of the Behavior
It can be difficult to know just what causes someone with dementia to scream or cry out, but determining the reason is the first step in stopping it. Some possible causes are:
- Pain or discomfort.
- Needing something, like food, water, or the bathroom.
- Feeling bored, anxious, or lonely.
- Overstimulation.
- Having a hallucination.
- Frustration over the inability to communicate.
Tips for Managing the Behavior
Though the behavior is troubling, it’s important that you remain as calm as possible while you deal with it. Getting upset may make the senior even more distraught. Some other tips that may help are:
- Have the doctor check the person for depression and anxiety. If either is present, treatment may help to resolve the behavior.
- Don’t ignore what is going on or try to talk over the screaming or crying. Instead, talk to the senior and involve them in what you are doing.
- Always provide directions as you are doing something with the person, such as helping them to dress or bathe. The behavior can be triggered by not knowing what is going on or why you are doing something.
Activities for Distraction
If you’ve tried to stop the behavior by determining its cause and are still having trouble, activities can help to distract the senior. Some activities that may help are:
- Play Music: Turn on some music that you know the older adult likes. Familiar music can offer them comfort.
- Pet Therapy: Encourage the older adult to interact with their pet. Let them hold the cat or pet the dog.
- Go Outside: Sometimes going somewhere else can stop the behavior. Some fresh air may help the senior to relax.
- Have a Snack: Enjoying a food they like might stop the behavior. Have favorite snacks on hand to give them during such times.
Elder care can assist families struggling to deal with the difficult behaviors of dementia. Elder care agencies are often able to match the experience of their staff members to the needs of their clients. This means that your aging relative’s elder care provider is likely to have experience with dementia patients and know some tricks to deal with behaviors.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering Elder Care Wolfforth, TX, please contact the caring staff at Best In-Home Care (806) 412-0723.
Sources
https://dailycaring.com/14-ways-to-handle-screaming-and-crying-in-dementia/
https://www.verywellhealth.com/why-do-some-people-with-dementia-cry-and-call-out-97628
https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/symptoms-and-diagnosis/symptoms/shouting-and-screaming