Attend our upcoming event at The Kensington White Plains, “Navigating Common Behaviors in Early to Moderate Alzheimer’s”, which will focus on understanding and managing Alzheimer’s behavior.
Our featured guest Jed A. Levine is President Emeritus, Director, External Relations at Caring Kind, The Heart of Alzheimer’s Caregiving. As an expert on Alzheimer’s care, he will educate our guests on recognizing and responding to behavioral changes in the early and middle stages of Alzheimer’s.
This event will equip caregivers and families with essential knowledge and strategies to support their loved ones effectively, enhancing their ability to provide care and comfort.
RSVP today to secure your seat!
What are some common behaviors of Alzheimer’s disease?
Alzheimer’s disease is caused by an accumulation of proteins in the brain, called plaques and tangles, that block communication signals. Depending on where these proteins accumulate, the resulting behavior changes correlate to the specific signals being blocked.
These behavioral changes are significant because they impact daily living, relationships, and the overall quality of life for both the individual and their caregivers.
Here are some common behaviors observed in individuals with Alzheimer’s, which usually worsen over time:
- Memory loss that disrupts daily life
- Difficulty planning or solving problems
- Confusion with time or place
- Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
- New problems with words in speaking or writing
- Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps
- Decreased or poor judgment
- Withdrawal from work or social activities
- Changes in mood and personality, such as increased anxiety, aggression, or apathy
- Difficulty completing familiar tasks
- Repetitive behaviors or questions
- Wandering and getting lost
- Trouble sleeping or changes in sleep patterns
- Inappropriate behavior or difficulty controlling impulses
- Hallucinations or delusions
Early stage Alzheimer’s behavior: What to expect
This stage typically lasts 2-4 years, with mild symptoms such as forgetfulness, slight confusion, and difficulty finding words.
In the early stage of Alzheimer’s, individuals may exhibit:
- Forgetfulness: Frequently forgetting names, appointments, or recent events.
- Difficulty finding words: Struggling to find the right words during conversations.
- Losing items: Misplacing objects and being unable to retrace steps to find them.
- Changes in judgment or decision-making: Making poor decisions or showing diminished judgment in everyday situations.
A new breakthrough drug called Leqembi has shown promise in helping to treat early-stage Alzheimer’s by slowing the progression of cognitive decline and improving overall brain function. This innovative treatment offers hope for patients and caregivers, providing a new horizon in the management of Alzheimer’s disease.
Responding to early-stage Alzheimer’s behavior
Caregivers can adopt the following strategies to respond to early-stage Alzheimer’s behaviors:
- Maintain a calm environment: Reducing noise and distractions can help alleviate confusion and agitation.
- Use memory aids: Tools like calendars, notes, and pill organizers can assist with memory challenges.
- Establish routines: Consistent daily routines can provide a sense of stability and reduce anxiety.
- Practice patience and understanding: Responding with patience and empathy is crucial. Validate the loved one’s feelings and maintain open communication.
Middle-stage Alzheimer’s behavior: what to expect
This stage can last 2-10 years, with moderate symptoms including increased confusion, noticeable memory loss, difficulty recognizing familiar people, and behavioral changes.
In the middle stage of Alzheimer’s, individuals may experience:
- Increased confusion: Greater difficulty recognizing familiar people or places.
- Wandering: The tendency to wander and get lost.
- Pronounced personality changes: More noticeable shifts in mood and personality, including increased agitation or aggression.
These behaviors can be more challenging and disruptive to daily life, requiring more intensive support and management.
Responding to middle-stage Alzheimer’s behavior
Caregivers can manage middle-stage Alzheimer’s behaviors by:
- Simplifying tasks: Breaking down activities into simpler steps to make them more manageable.
- Using visual cues: Employing visual aids and prompts to guide daily activities.
- Providing reassurance: Offering frequent reassurance and comfort to reduce anxiety and agitation.
- Maintaining a structured daily routine: Consistent routines help provide a sense of order and predictability.
- Implementing safety measures: Ensuring the home environment is safe to prevent wandering and accidents.
Late-stage Alzheimer’s behavior: what to expect
The late stage of Alzheimer’s can last 1-3 years and involves severe symptoms, including significant memory loss, inability to communicate, loss of motor skills, and complete dependency on caregivers for daily activities. In the late stage of Alzheimer’s, individuals may experience:
- Significant memory loss: Inability to remember recent events, recognize loved ones, or recall personal history.
- Inability to communicate: Severe difficulty with speech, leading to minimal or no verbal communication.
- Loss of motor skills: Difficulty walking, sitting, swallowing, and controlling bladder and bowel functions.
- Complete dependency: Dependence on caregivers for all activities of daily living, including eating, dressing, and bathing.
- Increased vulnerability: Higher risk of infections, especially pneumonia, due to weakened immune system and impaired swallowing.
Responding to late-stage Alzheimer’s behavior
Caregivers can manage late-stage Alzheimer’s behaviors by:
- Ensuring comfort: Prioritize the loved one’s comfort through gentle touch, soothing music, and a calm environment.
- Assisting with daily activities: Offer complete support for eating, bathing, dressing, and other personal care tasks.
- Maintaining a consistent routine: Help reduce anxiety and provide a sense of stability through regular routines.
- Ensuring proper nutrition and hydration: Monitor and assist with feeding to prevent choking and ensure adequate nutrition and hydration.
- Implementing safety measures: Create a safe living space to prevent falls and other accidents.
- Offering emotional support: Provide frequent reassurance, affection, and emotional support to enhance their sense of well-being.
The Kensington White Plains: expert care for Alzheimer’s and dementia
The Kensington White Plains is a premier assisted living and memory care community located in White Plains, New York.
Our Connections neighborhood is designed to care for those with early to mid-stage memory loss, while Haven is for those with mid to late-stage. These neighborhoods allow us to cater our care to individuals and provide compassion for all levels of need.
Our Promise is to “love and care for your family as we do our own,” giving families peace of mind knowing their loved ones receive meticulous care from our dedicated professionals.
Our loving team is certified in Positive Approach to Care and specializes in two levels of memory care communities, Haven and Connections, providing comprehensive support from the early to late stages of Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Contact us today to join our waitlist or sign up for upcoming events to stay in the loop with The Kensington White Plains.