Care recipient (cr) touches other inappropriately

Try: #when the cr touches someone inappropriately remind the cr firmly but kindly that some people do not like to be touched and that it is wrong to touch someone else without permission #give the cr an object to occupy his or her hands such as a hand-held puzzle toy ask the cr to figure it out for you this way the cr cr’s mind and hands are occupied and the cr feels useful to be helping you #if a puzzle is too complicated give the cr a skein of yarn and ask if he or she will wind it into a ball for you the task is fairly uncomplicated requires both hands and has the benefit of being useful #compliment the cr on how well he or she is figuring the puzzle out

Materials: Skein of yarn any other hand-held puzzle toy

Categories: Behavior Challenging, Social, Needs Some Assistance

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: n/a

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Care recipient (cr) tries to open doors leading to stairs and or exterior doors

Try: #using the marker write the word ‘closed ‘ in large letters on a sheet of paper you can also write the words ‘dead end ‘ instead #tape the signs to any exterior doors and or doors leading to stairs the cr may decide not open the doors due to past life experiences associated with these words ‘closed’ and ‘dead end’ may signify that there is nothing for the cr on the other side of the door

Materials: Marker paper tape

Categories: Behavior Challenging, Medical Physical, Mobile, Needs Some Assistance, Needs Much Assistance, Some Supervision, Maximum Supervision, Good Vision, So-So Vision, Fully Aware, Somewhat Aware, Good L T Memory, So-So L T Memory, So-So S T Memory, Poor S T Memory

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: n/a

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Care recipient (cr) frequently spits or cries out cr may spit out food or be distracted from daily routine by crying out repetitive phrase or word

Try: First make sure the cr cr’s physical needs are met assess for pain and issues related to positioning overly-stimulating environment toileting etc if all the physical needs are met try something distracting that has oral appeal sing a song with the cr offer candy favorite snack bubble gum etc

Materials: Caregivers with patience favorite candy snacks bubble gum etc

Categories: Behavior Challenging, Some Supervision, Maximum Supervision, Somewhat Aware, Unaware

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: n/a

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Care recipients cr sometimes show strange behaviors a doctor should evaluate any unusual behaviors or personality changes treatments are based on the following causes of…

Try: Care recipients cr sometimes show strange behaviors a doctor should evaluate any unusual behaviors or personality changes treatments are based on the following causes of strange behavior alzheimer alzheimer’s disease — medications sympathetic care occupational therapy family support brain tumor head injury stroke infection fever or pneumonia — seek immediate medical attention emotional or psychiatric problems — support talk therapy and medications environmental causes — change the environment or change environments excess alcohol — stop drinking abstinence huntington huntington’s disease — supportive care hypothermia — warmth rewarming should be carefully monitored illicit drug use — stop taking the drug and seek a doctor doctor’s advice for withdrawal symptoms low thyroid function — see your health care provider about thyroid hormone replacement treatment malnutrition — medical exam followed by proper diet and vitamin supplements medication — ask the doctor about adjusting the dosage changing medications or stopping them surgery — this is usually temporary but avoid long-term use of sedatives and painkillers information references www nlm nih gov

Materials: n/a

Categories: Behavior Challenging, Emotional Psychological, Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: Strange behaviors treatment

*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed

Unusual or strange behavior involves performing actions that are not normal for the Care recipient (cr) there are many causes of unusual or strange behavior…

Try: Unusual or strange behavior involves performing actions that are not normal for the Care recipient (cr) there are many causes of unusual or strange behavior including medical and psychiatric illnesses two of the more common medical causes are delirium — sudden or quick onset of reduced consciousness awareness perception or thought that may be a symptom of a medical illness such as brain or mental dysfunction dementia — chronic worsening loss of cognitive function that occurs with brain disorders psychiatric illnesses that are often associated with unusual or strange behavior include anxiety disorder bipolar disorder depression psychosis schizophrenia possible causes of strange behavior in the Care recipient (cr) include alcohol consumption in excess alzheimer alzheimer’s disease chronic exposure to cold hypothermia dehydration hypoglycemia electrolyte abnormality emotional problems depression or feeling useless head injury heart attack pulmonary embolism stroke infection including pneumonia gastroenteritis urinary tract infection malnutrition particularly vitamin b12 and thiamine deficiency medications sleeping pills pain relievers thyroid disorders unfamiliar surroundings information references adapted from www nlm nih gov

Materials: n/a

Categories: Behavior Challenging, Emotional Psychological

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: Strange behavior

*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed

Care recipients cr with obsessive-compulsive disorder ocd have persistent upsetting thoughts and use rituals to control the anxiety these thoughts produce most of the time…

Try: Care recipients cr with obsessive-compulsive disorder ocd have persistent upsetting thoughts and use rituals to control the anxiety these thoughts produce most of the time the rituals end up controlling the cr for example if people are obsessed with germs or dirt they may develop a compulsion to wash their hands over and over again if they develop an obsession with intruders they may lock and re-lock their doors many times before going to bed being afraid of social embarrassment may prompt crs with ocd to comb their hair compulsively in front of a mirror-sometimes they get caught in the mirror and can’t move away from it performing such rituals is not pleasurable at best it produces temporary relief from the anxiety created by obsessive thoughts obsessive-compulsive disorder is typically an anxiety disorder but when an elderly cr suffers from it the condition could be related to alzheimer alzheimer’s disease or dementia healthy people also have rituals such as checking to see if the stove is off several times before leaving the house the difference is that crs with ocd perform their rituals even though doing so interferes with daily life and they find the repetition distressing although most adults with ocd recognize that what they are doing is senseless some may not realize that their behavior is out of the ordinary obsessive compulsive behaviors are those that interfere with daily life the cr is unable to control the rituals some common rituals are a need to repeatedly check things touch things especially in a particular sequence or count things ocd affects about 2 2 million american adults and the problem can be accompanied by eating disorders other anxiety disorders or depression it strikes men and women in roughly equal numbers information references agingcare com

Materials: n/a

Categories: Behavior Challenging

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: Compulsion

*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed

Unusual or strange behavior involves performing actions that are not normal for the Care recipient (cr) there are many causes of unusual or strange behavior…

Try: Unusual or strange behavior involves performing actions that are not normal for the Care recipient (cr) there are many causes of unusual or strange behavior including medical and psychiatric illnesses two of the more common medical causes are delirium — sudden or quick onset of reduced consciousness awareness perception or thought that may be a symptom of a medical illness such as brain or mental dysfunction dementia — chronic worsening loss of cognitive function that occurs with brain disorders psychiatric illnesses that are often associated with unusual or strange behavior include; anxiety disorder; bipolar disorder; depression; psychosis; schizophrenia possible causes of strange behavior in the Care recipient (cr) include alcohol consumption in excess alzheimer alzheimer’s disease chronic exposure to cold hypothermia dehydration hypoglycemia electrolyte abnormality emotional problems depression or feeling useless head injury heart attack pulmonary embolism stroke infection including pneumonia gastroenteritis urinary tract infection malnutrition particularly vitamin b12 and thiamine deficiency medications sleeping pills pain relievers thyroid disorders unfamiliar surroundings information references www nlm nih gov

Materials: n/a

Categories: Behavior Challenging, Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: Strange behavior causes

*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed

Care recipients cr sometimes show strange behaviors a doctor should evaluate any unusual behaviors or personality changes treatments are based on the following causes of…

Try: Care recipients cr sometimes show strange behaviors a doctor should evaluate any unusual behaviors or personality changes treatments are based on the following causes of strange behavior alzheimer alzheimer’s disease — medications sympathetic care occupational therapy family support brain tumor head injury stroke infection fever or pneumonia — seek immediate medical attention emotional or psychiatric problems — support talk therapy and medications environmental causes — change the environment or change environments excess alcohol — stop drinking abstinence huntington huntington’s disease — supportive care hypothermia — warmth rewarming should be carefully monitored illicit drug use — stop taking the drug and seek a doctor doctor’s advice for withdrawal symptoms low thyroid function — see your health care provider about thyroid hormone replacement treatment malnutrition — medical exam followed by proper diet and vitamin supplements medication — ask the doctor about adjusting the dosage changing medications or stopping them surgery — this is usually temporary but avoid long-term use of sedatives and painkillers information references www nlm nih gov

Materials: n/a

Categories: Behavior Challenging

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: Strange behavior treatment

*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed

Changing to a new doctor is often stressful but for a Care recipient (cr) who is set in their ways seeing an unfamiliar physician can…

Try: Changing to a new doctor is often stressful but for a Care recipient (cr) who is set in their ways seeing an unfamiliar physician can be extremely unsettling it is important since the right doctor can make all the difference in managing the various health problems crs often have it is important to find one with interest in treating older adults–a geriatric doctor if cr is experiencing memory loss and needs to be evaluated by a dementia specialist but refuses to go ask their primary care physician to rave about the new doctor saying how much he has helped so many of his other patients over the years the doctor can be a great resource to sell the cr on the need to see a specialist you can even coax the cr by scheduling a shopping trip or another visit with the appointment another idea if you have durable power of attorney for the cr’s health ask for copies of their medical records from their existing physician then take the records to the new doctor yourself and ask for his office staff staff’s assistance to call the cr to help reduce their fear of the unknown with the right tone and encouragement from a caring healthcare professional it may be easier to get the cr to consent to see this new physician but if you have a cr who just won’t go see a doctor of any kind period you have to realize that when you were the child and you were ill your parent would have done everything in their power to make you better and if you recall it didn’t matter how much you screamed and yelled if you needed to see a doctor or have a certain treatment you got it and yes as adults crs have earned the right to make decisions but oftentimes once-competent crs don’t think as rationally as they used to and can become incapable of making the best decisions so when you know in your heart that the time has come to step up and be the adult just remember to continue to treat the cr with respect information references agingcare com

Materials: n/a

Categories: Behavior Challenging, Communication

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: Doctor speaking with doctor

*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed

Care recipients cr will often keep secrets or not inform a caregiver about certain things the reasons for secrecy vary from losing independence to embarrassment…

Try: Care recipients cr will often keep secrets or not inform a caregiver about certain things the reasons for secrecy vary from losing independence to embarrassment the most common secrets are falls falls are the leading cause of death injury and hospital admissions among the elderly population the preservation of independence is of major importance to crs even at the risk of falling pain as a caregiver you need to know about pain so that you can get the proper medical treatment or medication for the cr dizziness although the cr may not want to alarm you this is a potentially serious and dangerous problem that needs to be addressed auto accidents or driving infractions crs don’t want to lose their ability to drive a driving violation or accident may be indicative of failing health conditions such as vision mobility or mental awareness money shortages if you as caregiver are aware of financial difficulties you can seek financial assistance from government or community agencies on behalf of your parent frivolous purchasing crs sometimes get into the habit of making unnecessary even unwise purchases they might buy from qvc catalogs telemarketers direct mail pitches or on the internet the cr doesn’t tell the caregiver in fear that their purchases will be restricted and financial independence taken away gambling casinos often target older crs as gambling is popular for some seniors however gambling can quickly get out of control and lead to financial troubles financial abuse similar to elder abuse financial abuse is a crime and because most crs withhold the facts from their caregivers the crooks continue stealing without penalties or jail terms elder abuse elder abuse may be caused by family members neighbors or even paid helpers each event is a criminal act but the cr may be concerned that telling you may cause a major rift in family alcohol or drug abuse keep your eye out for changes in mood or personality empty bottles of wine or frequent trips to the pharmacy if you suspect abuse address the issues with the cr in a non-confrontational way information references agingcare com

Materials: n/a

Categories: Behavior Challenging

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: Secrets won’t talk

*This information is listed as a Fact Sheet and is not explicitly medically licensed