Responsive Behaviours OER

1. W O R K I N G W I T H R E S P O N S I V E B E H A V I O U R S
Responsive Behaviours

2. Responsive Behaviours
Behaviour as a response to something in the
residents environment (both external and
internal), also known as triggers
Ex: noisy environment
lack of meaningful activities
residents misperception of situation
These behaviours are the person’s best attempt
to respond to their current situation

3. Causes
Physical changes associated with dementia taking
place in the brain affect behaviour and emotional
responses
Characteristics of the social and physical
environment affect behaviour and emotional
responses
Changes are the result of a unmet need and
possible difficulty in expressing the need.

4. Responsive Behaviours
 Behaviours should be interpreted as self-
protective, defensive, or communicative
strategies in response to unmet needs, which
serve as an important way in which individuals
with dementia express themselves

5. Physical Heath
Physical triggers might include delirium, pain,
disease, drugs and alcohol or disability. Many
older people have other chronic conditions
others?

6. VISION
loss of peripheral vision
eventually will lose sight, brain can’t respond to
all the stimulation
PERCEPTION
Lose depth perception
Physical Changes that affect
behaviour

7. Intellectual/Emotional
Intellectual refers to the type of dementia and
changes in the brain, What triggers might there
be?
Emotional triggers may includes adjustment to
relocation, loss of independence, and changes in
caregivers, as well as depression, delusions, and
hallucinations, boredom, loneliness, feeling of
abandonment, and issues of spirituality

8. Capabilities
Triggers can include not understanding loss of
functional abilities and feeling invaded.
Need to balance remaining abilities with needs that
must be met.

9. Environment
Triggers can be from both the physical and
emotional environment.
Require an environment which is flexible to address
changing needs, respects needs for privacy,
provides appropriate cues and is familiar

10. Social and Cultural
Triggers may be memories that are brought on by
the current situation.
Includes life story . Life accomplishments, social
networks, likes and dislikes, interactions with
family, team members and other residents, and
previous coping strategies.

11. Types of Behaviours
Verbal
Non-aggressive
complaining/whining
negativism
constant unwarranted requests for attention
repetitive sentences or questions
Aggressive
cursing
verbal sexual advances
screaming
making strange noises

12. Types of Behaviours
Physical
Non-aggressive
pacing or aimless wandering
inappropriate dress or disrobing
trying to get to a different place
hiding things
intentional falling
hoarding things
moving furniture
Aggressive
grabbing onto people kicking
scratching spitting
hitting slapping
throwing things pushing

13. 1 . S P E N D T I M E W I T H T H E P E R S O N
2 . T A L K I N G W I T H T H E P E R S O N
3 . P R O V I D I N G M U S I C
4 . P R O V I D I N G S T I M U L A T I O N I F L A C K I N G
5 . P H Y S I C A L L Y R E D I R E C T I N G T H E P E R S O N
6 . R E D U C I N G S T I M U L A T I O N I F T O O M U C H
G O I N G O N
7 . P R O V I D I N G S O O T H I N G S O U N D S ( S U C H A S
N A T U R E S O U N D S )
8 . H A N D M A S S A G E
9 . R E M I N I S C I N G
1 0 . C O N S U L T I N G O T H E R S T A F F M E M B E R S
1 1 . C O N S U L T I N G P R O F E S S I O N A L S
Effective Interventions when
working with People who exhibit
responsive behaviours

14. The 10 absolutes for Caregiving for Persons with
Dementia
1. Never ARGUE instead AGREE
2. Never REASON instead DIVERT
3. Never SHAME instead DISTRACT
4. Never LECTURE instead REASSURE
5. Never say REMEMBER instead REMINISCE
6. Never say I TOLD YOU instead REPEAT
7. Never say YOU CAN’T instead say DO WHAT YOU CAN
8. Never COMMAND or DEMAND instead ASK or MODEL
9. Never CONDESCEND, instead ENCOURAGE and PRAISE
10. Never FORCE instead REINFORCE
From the Alzheimer’s Society