Responsive Behaviours in Dementia - Are meds the answer?

Responsive behaviours are the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia, and can include: apathy, depression, agitation, aggression, wandering, yelling, and more. Behaviour is almost always a response to an unmet need, and discovering and addressing this need is important to managing with these symptoms.
Medications can also be used but are not without risk.
Dr. Didyk reviews the definition of responsive behaviours and an approach to assessment and management.
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[angelikaschwarz]

I agree with everything you say. Great to find an affirmation. Thank you!

[coolgal]

Great video. Thank u ! Do you have a video about different antipsychotics and their use in pts with dementia

[shecat]

Can i get advice please? My mom 78 has reached a point she thinks my adult daughter and i are bullies and abusive. She says she is sick of being told what to do. She has verbally and physically assaulted us, that led to her injuring her self with the extra long fingernails, she refuses to let me cut. She nearly needed stitches last time as her skin is like tissue now. We have started having a really hard time getting her to eat, or do anything for that matter. I am trying very hard but she is tested my patients to the end. She is losing weight and we have her taking boost on top of the small meals we can get her to eat. And most of the time the only way we can get her to eat is to not let her have a smoke. My house was smoke free but since her room is upstairs and its difficult for her to get up and down the stairs, because she refuses to do her exercises to strengthen her muscles. She we let her smoke by the window with a fan sucking it outside. We have had to cut her back as she was near chain smoking and started fighting her sleep meds because of cravings. She would scream down the house and assault us. We had to physically pick her up and take her back to her room and turn her light off so she would not get up and rummage around her room. She was also hiding smokes for later. And she just recently started hiding her food. She will bury what she does not want under other stuff in the garbage by her bed. She has only been with me now after i rescued her from being abandoned by other family in a small town hospital across the country 2 months ago. I had lived the other side for 20 years and we saw each other every couple of years. We talked on the phone at least once a week. Since i brought her home she has lost her memory of me. She thinks we only met when i brought her here. 2 weeks after she was here i walked into her room and she asked who are you? It has been fast down hill from there. I have lost my mom, my best friend and confidant. And its tearing me apart. Her granddaughter and i are not much more than staff now who tell her what to do. She was to move here last jan and her neighbors who were going to move her stole her moving money and a bunch of her things. Everyone in her life has stolen sold or gave away everything cherished and valuable to her. She has left a bedroom set and a suitcase of clothes. She then had a very bad fall in may and shattered her hip and she was not the same after that. She was forgetful before and forgot how something's worked, but not even as close to as bad as she is now. The people in charge of her care did nothing to get her negligent dr to investigate what happened. They just signed her off and then dumped her when she started acting out. It took me 4 months to come up with enough money to go and get her. And she knew me. We talked every days until the ex family cut her phone because she got mad at them. Left her alone and no way to contact anyone. She was excited for me to come and get her. Then i had her for 2 weeks and now shes gone. I never thought i could hate my ex family as much as i do. I will never forget these fake Christians narcissists the rest of my days for taking my mom from me. My heart is so broken. Anyway i need all the advice anyone has please. Its so hard for me to be stern with her and take things from her or force her to do things she does not want to do. I do feel like a bully. She gets mad about everything now. Both me and my daughter also have alot of our own health issues so its takes both of us to look after mom and im tired, im so tired. Dementia or brain damage has to be the most cruel thing, To watch your cherished loved one disappear and become someone you cant even get along with anymore.