Dementia and Inappropriate Behavior: How to Respond
Dementia can cause people to say and do some pretty odd things. Family caregivers may be caught off guard at first, but as they learn about their loved one’s condition, it should become easier to adapt to these new quirks. However, people who aren’t providing care for someone with dementia typically aren’t familiar with the unusual symptoms that can develop. When elders living with cognitive decline (and their caregivers) venture out to shop, attend doctor’s appointments, socialize, and live their lives, embarrassing and sometimes inappropriate scenarios may ensue.
A caregiver’s experience: Whether your loved one has had dementia for years, or you’re on the lookout for early signs of dementia, inappropriate behavior should be on your radar. Handling dementia-related behavior changes while out in public can be a harrowing experience at times. I can recall one instance when I was sitting with my neighbor, Joe, at the local clinic, waiting for some medical tests he required. Joe saw a man pulling an oxygen tank behind him and excitedly yelled, “Look! He’s got a golf cart!”
While an outsider would have been confused by his exclamation, it made sense enough to me. Joe had loved playing golf as a younger man, his sight was poor, and his word-finding abilities had declined over the years. He “saw” and announced what he knew: a golf cart. The man walking by was embarrassed. I simply smiled at him and redirected Joe, asking him to tell me his best golfing stories. This incident was a little awkward…
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