Helping Your Loved One Manage Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease
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Caregiver Resources for Alzheimer’s

Helping Your Loved One Manage Symptoms of Alzheimers Disease

Alzheimer’s Disease may result in behavior or mood changes in yourself or a loved one with the disease. It is important to understand if these changes are related to Alzheimer’s.
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You Can Take Action

Caregiver’s can try these approaches to reduce and relieve symptoms for people managing Alzheimer’s disease:

Use Active listening to improve communication

Alzheimer’s creates challenges in communication that affect each person differently. Caregivers can use active listening to better understand the needs and feelings of people living with the disease. When conversing with a person with Alzheimer’s, listen carefully and offer encouragement through nodding and eye contact, repeat unclear phrases to check your understanding, use relaxed body language, and ask open questions that create space for the person to express themselves. Active listening can help you meaningfully connect with your loved one and overcome misunderstandings4

Promote physical comfort by monitoring basic needs

. A person with Alzheimer’s may have trouble conveying what their body needs. Personal needs that are not met can contribute to behavioral changes and emotional distress. Check for pain, hunger, thirst, constipation, feeling too hot or too cold, and a full bladder. People experiencing Alzheimer’s may also be unable to report symptoms of common illnesses such as infections in the urinary tract, ear, or sinuses and problems with uncorrected hearing or vision

Identify triggering situations and de-escalate

Behavioral symptoms can be triggered by events or changes in a person’s surroundings. Situations like moving to a new residence, hospital stays, misperceived threats, or being asked to change clothes can all affect behavior. These changes can create stress, fear, and frustration for a person with Alzheimer’s. It’s important to identify what caused the behavior and try to find a solution that will provide security and comfort. Caregivers can reduce noise, glare, and background distractions and redirect the person’s attention.

Modify environments to support safety

Unsafe environments may worsen the impact of symptoms. Caregivers can ensure the safety of their loved one by limiting access to dangerous items and reviewing their loved one’s ability to use appliances and respond to phone calls and emergencies. As the disease progresses, it might be necessary to supervise more of their actions. Strategies like setting phone reminders for medications or writing instructions for using the oven can be helpful to make the environment safer.

Consider whether medications can be used to treat severe symptoms

Individuals with Alzheimer’s can sometimes experience severe symptoms and cause harm to themselves or others. If approaches to relieve symptoms that do not use medications fail, prescription medication are an option to reduce sleep disturbances, depression, anxiety, and psychosis. Work with your loved one’s care team to target specific symptoms, understand potential risks and benefits, and monitor for side effects.
  1. https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/symptoms-and-diagnosis/symptoms/how-to-communicate-dementia
  2. https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/communicating-person-living-dementia
  3. https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/treatments/treatments-for-behavior
  4. https://www.ucsfhealth.org/education/coping-strategies-for-alzheimers-disease-caregivers
  5. https://www.alz.org/help-support/i-have-alz/live-well/taking-care-of-yourself

Use Active listening to improve communication

Alzheimer’s creates challenges in communication that affect each person differently. Caregivers can use active listening to better understand the needs and feelings of people living with the disease. When conversing with a person with Alzheimer’s, listen carefully and offer encouragement through nodding and eye contact, repeat unclear phrases to check your understanding, use relaxed body language, and ask open questions that create space for the person to express themselves. Active listening can help you meaningfully connect with your loved one and overcome misunderstandings4

Promote physical comfort by monitoring basic needs

. A person with Alzheimer’s may have trouble conveying what their body needs. Personal needs that are not met can contribute to behavioral changes and emotional distress. Check for pain, hunger, thirst, constipation, feeling too hot or too cold, and a full bladder. People experiencing Alzheimer’s may also be unable to report symptoms of common illnesses such as infections in the urinary tract, ear, or sinuses and problems with uncorrected hearing or vision

Identify triggering situations and de-escalate

Behavioral symptoms can be triggered by events or changes in a person’s surroundings. Situations like moving to a new residence, hospital stays, misperceived threats, or being asked to change clothes can all affect behavior. These changes can create stress, fear, and frustration for a person with Alzheimer’s. It’s important to identify what caused the behavior and try to find a solution that will provide security and comfort. Caregivers can reduce noise, glare, and background distractions and redirect the person’s attention.

Modify environments to support safety

Unsafe environments may worsen the impact of symptoms. Caregivers can ensure the safety of their loved one by limiting access to dangerous items and reviewing their loved one’s ability to use appliances and respond to phone calls and emergencies. As the disease progresses, it might be necessary to supervise more of their actions. Strategies like setting phone reminders for medications or writing instructions for using the oven can be helpful to make the environment safer.

Consider whether medications can be used to treat severe symptoms

Individuals with Alzheimer’s can sometimes experience severe symptoms and cause harm to themselves or others. If approaches to relieve symptoms that do not use medications fail, prescription medication are an option to reduce sleep disturbances, depression, anxiety, and psychosis. Work with your loved one’s care team to target specific symptoms, understand potential risks and benefits, and monitor for side effects.
  1. https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/about-dementia/symptoms-and-diagnosis/symptoms/how-to-communicate-dementia
  2. https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/communicating-person-living-dementia
  3. https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/treatments/treatments-for-behavior
  4. https://www.ucsfhealth.org/education/coping-strategies-for-alzheimers-disease-caregivers
  5. https://www.alz.org/help-support/i-have-alz/live-well/taking-care-of-yourself