In dementia, when language and logic are failing, behavior communicates comfort and distress.
Yelling in the middle of the night might be communicating many things:
“Where am I?”
“My hips hurt.”
“I’m afraid.”
“I’m cold.”
Behavior is a two-way street. Keep it slow. Keep it simple. Keep it kind.
Asking a person with dementia “How was breakfast today?” may cause discomfort and embarrassment. It takes them out of the present into a past they may not recall. Meeting them in the here and now with a comment like, “Your shirt is bright pink, I like it.” can prevent distress and bring joy.
For more information contact Dr. Leslie Estep, Dr. Anita Meyer, or Dr. Erika Pope at Hospice of the Northwest, 360-814-5550, or [email protected], [email protected], or [email protected].
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