Brain & Nervous System Alzheimer's For Caregivers Responding to Agitation in Dementia By Esther Heerema, MSW Esther Heerema, MSW Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Esther Heerema, MSW, shares practical tips gained from working with hundreds of people whose lives are touched by Alzheimer's disease and other kinds of dementia. Learn about our editorial process Updated on February 18, 2022 Medically reviewed by Huma Sheikh, MD Medically reviewed by Huma Sheikh, MD Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Huma Sheikh, MD, is board-certified in neurology and specializes in migraine and stroke. She co-founded the migraine and vascular section for the American Headache Society. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Prevalence How to Respond Effective Interventions Helpful Medications Agitation is a general term to describe excessive physical movement and verbal activity. Agitation often develops in the middle stages of Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia and can include restlessness, pacing, verbal aggression, combativeness, calling out and crying, and wandering. Peter Griffith Photographer's Choice 83894917 / Getty Images Prevalence of Agitation in Dementia Statistics vary, but some research estimates that as high as 80% of people with dementia experience agitation. One study determined that approximately 68% of people with dementia who were living in the community experienced excessive agitation. Another study found that among people with dementia who were in nursing home care, approximately 75% of them experienced agitation. How to Respond to Agitation Investigate the Cause The cause is the most important factor to consider if you see someone with dementia who is agitated. We know that most behaviors that we see as challenging in someone with dementia are really an effort to communicate something. You are charged with figuring that "something" out. The cause can range from boredom to pain to a need for exercise. One study found that discomfort was the cause behind many occasions of agitation in nursing home residents with dementia. This was particularly true for agitation including non-aggressive physical behavior (such as restlessness) and for verbal agitation (such as calling out). Other causes may include environmental changes, routine changes, unfamiliar caregivers, fear and fatigue. Review these possible causes: Environmental causes of challenging behaviors Psychological / cognitive causes of challenging behaviors Individualize It Your response should be tailored to the particular person with whom you're working. Once you've determined the likely cause, you can choose an appropriate response to that person. It may be as simple as helping the person change positions because they are in pain, or going for a walk with her because she's feeling restless. How you respond to someone who is agitated should depend on which behaviors he is demonstrating, possible reasons he might be agitated, what has worked well in the past when he's been agitated, and his personality, abilities, preferences, and needs. What Research Says Is Effective While each person is different, here are few research-proven interventions to try when a loved one or patient is agitated: Addressing Unmet Needs Making sure you've met the needs of someone who is hungry, tired, bored, lonely, or in pain is paramount. Remember that the agitation is likely there for a reason, and be certain to meet the need it may be expressing. Music Both singing and listening to music have been shown to decrease agitation and even improve cognition in persons with dementia. Physical Touch Don't underestimate the importance of physical touch. A little tender loving care goes a long way. Research has demonstrated that appropriate physical touch can diminish agitation. Physical Exercise Work it out. Physical exercise can help decrease challenging behaviors and improve cognitive ability, among other benefits. Pet Therapy Research has shown that animal-assisted therapy can improve mood and nutrition, as well as decrease agitated behaviors in people with dementia. Caregiver Training Several research studies have tested whether spending time on teaching caregivers (both family members and professionals) makes a difference in coping with and responding to agitation levels in people who have dementia. Research shows that education for caregivers benefits both the caregiver and the family member with dementia by decreasing caregivers' stress levels and enabling them to respond better to their family members, as well as decreasing the agitation in the person with dementia. Helpful Medications The short answer? There are occasionally times when psychotropic medications might be helpful and appropriate, but they should never be the first thing that you try. They also can cause a number of side effects and drug interactions. Many times, a person's agitation can be reduced simply by employing some of the strategies listed above. If you are not able to determine a reason for the agitation and it is causing the person distress (for example, they are experiencing frightening hallucinations or significant anxiety), you can ask their physician if medication might be appropriate. 7 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Davies SJ, Burhan AM, Kim D, et al. Sequential drug treatment algorithm for agitation and aggression in Alzheimer's and mixed dementia. J Psychopharmacol (Oxford). 2018;32(5):509-23. doi: 10.1177/0269881117744996 Tractenberg RE, Weiner MF, Thal LJ. Estimating the prevalence of agitation in community-dwelling persons with Alzheimer's disease. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 2002;14(1):11-8. doi: 10.1176/jnp.14.1.11 Testad I, Aasland AM, Aarsland D. Prevalence and correlates of disruptive behavior in patients in Norwegian nursing homes. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2007;22(9):916-21. doi: 10.1002/gps.1766 National Institute on Aging. What is dementia? Symptoms, types, and diagnosis. Pelletier IC, Landreville P. Discomfort and agitation in older adults with dementia. BMC Geriatr. 2007;7:27. doi: 10.1186/1471-2318-7-27 Scales K, Zimmerman S, Miller SJ. Evidence-based nonpharmacological practices to address behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. Gerontologist. 2018;58(suppl_1):S88-S102. doi:10.1093/geront/gnx167 Alzheimer's Association. Alzheimer's and dementia: treatment. Additional Reading Alzheimer's Association. Anxiety and agitation. Barnes TRE, Banerjee S, Collins N, Treloar A, McIntyre SM, Paton C. Antipsychotics in dementia: prevalence and quality of antipsychotic drug prescribing in UK mental health services. Br J Psychiatry. 2012;201(3):221-6. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.111.107631 Lin Y, Chu H, Yang C-Y, et al. Effectiveness of group music intervention against agitated behavior in elderly persons with dementia. Int J Geriat Psychiatry. 2011;26(7):670-8. doi:10.1002/gps.2580 By Esther Heerema, MSW Esther Heerema, MSW, shares practical tips gained from working with hundreds of people whose lives are touched by Alzheimer's disease and other kinds of dementia. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit