Dementia is unpredictable, to say the least. It can transform a person’s mood, personality, and behaviors quickly. When you’re at home caring for a loved one with dementia, these changes can be stressful enough to manage. But what happens when you are faced with Alzheimer’s outbursts in public – at a restaurant, grocery store, or hair salon?
How to Transform Cringeworthy to Calm
Fear of a public outburst may make you want to eliminate venturing out at all with someone with Alzheimer’s. However, being out in the community is important. It gives someone with dementia a sense of purpose, eases loneliness and isolation, offers opportunities to socialize, and more.
Understanding how to deal with an uncomfortable situation before going out is key. These recommendations can help.
- Keep calm. Your attitude and demeanor are highly contagious to a person with Alzheimer’s. Take a deep breath and give yourself a pep talk prior to stepping out the door. Remind yourself to remain patient and unwaveringly calm, regardless of what happens.
- Carry cards. If you are concerned with how an outburst may impact others around you, create some small business-sized cards that you can inconspicuously hand out. They can simply state, “Please forgive any impolite behaviors or outbursts. They are the result of dementia.”
- Track triggers. Keep a journal to note details on Alzheimer’s outbursts in public and then try to find commonalities. You might find, for instance, that the individual does well in a small restaurant or store, but becomes distraught whenever there are large crowds, a lot of noise, or bright lights. There could be a specific time of day that is more distressing to be out, or physical needs could be a factor, such as hunger, thirst, pain, fatigue, or the need to use the restroom.
How Home Care Can Help
Our Alzheimer’s care experts are available to help manage the effects of the disease with skill, patience, and creativity. As seasoned care professionals who are fully trained in a wide range of dementia care needs, we have seen it all! We understand how to restore calm to somebody who is distressed or agitated, ensuring dignity and respect throughout an outburst.
Some of the many challenging symptoms of dementia we are available to help manage include:
- Anxiety
- Hallucinations and delusions
- Wandering
- Sundowning
- Aggression
- Confusion and disorientation
- And more
Whether you’re looking for just a few hours of respite care to allow time for you to take a break, overnight support or live-in care to ensure safety and wellbeing while you get much-needed rest, or anything in between, we’re here for you.
Give us a call at 805-737-4357 for more tips and resources, and to get additional information on our specialized in-home dementia care in Lompoc, Arroyo Grande, Solvang, and the surrounding areas.