(Alzheimer Society of Canada) Behaviours associated with complex and challenging mental health, dementia or other neurological conditions include aggression, wandering and agitation. These apparent changes in the personality of the person with the disease are a major source of distress both to the person who is presenting the behaviours and to those who experience them – the caregiver, the family members, and the service providers in all sectors of the health-care system.
Video: How Can I Manage Challenging Behaviour?
The material was created by TCD, through the NEIL Programme at the Institute of Neuroscience with support from GENIO.
© 2016 The Provost, Fellows, Foundations Scholars, and the Other Members of Board, of the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity Of Queen Elizabeth, near Dublin. Permission to use this material was granted by TCD which reserves all rights in the material.
Strategies for Responding to Behaviours
Read more below about understanding the behaviours and how to respond to them. For more information, please contact your local Alzheimer Society.
Behaviour | Strategies |
Wandering
Walks away from home unattended with the risk of becoming lost
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Restlessness
Paces nervously, drums fingers, etc. for long periods of time
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Repeated actions
Repeats words or actions over and over and over again |
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Suspicion
Thinks others are trying to hurt her Accuses others of stealing possessions |
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Sexual behaviour
Removing clothes/exposing herself Physical and verbal advances towards others |
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Aggression
Physical and emotional outbursts (i.e., shouting, hitting)
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Additional Resources
- Delusions and hallucinations
- Sundowning
- Intimacy and sexuality
- Apathy

http://www.alzheimer.ca/en/Living-with-dementia/Understanding-behaviour
Alzheimer Society of Canada
20 Eglinton Avenue West,
16th Floor
Toronto, Ontario, M4R 1K8
Tel: 416-488-8772
Toll-free: 1-800-616-8816
Fax: 416-322-6656
Email: [email protected]
Charitable registration number:
11878 4925 RR0001
© 2016 Alzheimer Society of Canada. All rights reserved.