focus A D V E R T I S I N G F E AT U R E
When dementia behaviours change. Stay curious Changes in behaviour are common for a person living with dementia and can be an important way the person expresses what they are experiencing. Taking the time to understand the person living with dementia and their changed behaviours can help carers to recognise what may be at play and care can be tailored to support the dignity, autonomy and quality of life of the person.
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hanges in behaviour are complex and often a misunderstood aspect of living with dementia. It is common for these changes to be associated with the physical or emotional result of dementia, where in most cases, it is a form of communication of unmet needs. These behaviours can be confronting and disorientating for the person living with dementia, as well as those caring for them. They can often reflect distress or an unmet need, offering care teams a valuable signal about what the person may be experiencing and what support might help. Understanding the reasons for these changes, as well as their impact on people living with dementia, improves care teams’ abilities to respond in useful ways.
Why do behaviours change? Behaviour can change for many reasons including physical changes in the brain, the environment, health challenges or medication. As dementia continues to grow in the community – it affects approximately 10 per cent of Australians over 65 and up to 40 per cent of those over 90 today – it is helpful to understand why behaviours change. For example, three in four people living with dementia experience hallucinations, while changes to the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain can affect social filters, leading to disinhibition, says geriatrician Professor Sue Kurrle. Anxiety can be common, particularly when care is being delivered and the person may withdraw. A lack of interest