Behavioural symptoms of dementia — approach

Look for the cause before the medication: Pain, most common and most often missed Unmet need: hunger, thirst, toileting, cold, fatigue Infection, constipation, urinary retention Overstimulation: noise, too many people, rushed care Understimulation and boredom Approach to care: too fast, from behind, without explanation Non-pharmacological interventions first: adapt the environment, slow down, one caregiver, familiar routine, validation rather than confrontation. Antipsychotics only for severe distress or danger, at the lowest dose, reassessed regularly.

Clinical content reviewed by Ducamelle Louis, Registered Nurse