Thinking Outside The Box
Thinking outside of the box when it comes to dementia treatment sounds like a simple piece of advice. But it can do wonders when put into practice. Whenever I speak to caregivers, I highlight that creative, non-drug solutions can not only prove effective but can also protect those with dementia against the serious side effects of taking psychotropic medications. On a recent trip to Kamloops, I met a nurse at a care home who described how thinking outside of the box works. Instead of relying on medications as a first line of defense, it made a big difference for one resident.
The resident had Alzheimer’s and was refusing care. He would not get out of bed when requested, and would kick, yell and push staff members away. In addition, he could not clearly explain what was bothering him due to problems communicating. To attempt to calm him, the staff tried giving him anti-anxiety medications. But when the aggressive behaviour continued they still increased the dosage. However, despite these efforts, the resident continued to struggle and resist care.
Finding The Solution
The nurse could see that medications were not the right solution. She knew that they had to pinpoint the cause for the behaviour and began by asking a key question: ‘WHY was this agitation being triggered?’ After doing a bit of detective work and getting the opinions of others. She correctly deciphered that the resident’s behaviour could be due to physical pain and discomfort. Instead of anti-anxiety medication, he needed treatment that would lessen his pain.
Convincing the others on staff to gradually reduce the anti-anxiety medication and replace it with a basic pain reliever. Using Tylenol, it took time, but they eventually agreed and the results were amazing. The resident began to calm down and was willing to allow staff to handle his care needs.
As I teach in my book, Cracking the Dementia Code, asking the right questions leads to the right answers, and thinking outside of the box starts by asking WHY. Challenging behaviours, such as refusal of care, are certainly part of the effects of dementia. But they are also tied to other causes that can be successfully identified, managed and addressed. Breaking out of the box and convincing others to think creatively isn’t always easy but as shown through this example, it can make all the difference!
If you need support with finding and implementing creative solutions and strategies for dementia-related behaviours that you are experiencing with clients or family members, feel free to contact us at 1-888-502-1321.
