Dementia care: Coping with repetition

Submitted by Emma Hamilton on Sat, 15/10/2011 - 4:07pm

People with dementia can repeat themselves over and over again. They may tell you the same story constantly, repeat a word or phrase, or carry out the same activity many times.

This can get very frustrating. It is important to remind yourself that people with dementia can have problems expressing their thoughts. If your loved one is repeatedly asking about a family member or coming event it could be out of anxiety or fear.

Simply comforting and distracting the person can often put their mind at rest. If you feel like you may lose your temper, walk away and take a break.

Repetitive behaviour can sometimes be related to past habits or someone's work. Sometimes behaviour occurs for no real reason at all.

People living with dementia can often feel anxious, especially about future events. Try and be reassuring. Sometimes it can help not to mention an outing or visit from a friend until the last minute to avoid any anxiety.

In this article:

How can I help mum who repeatedly attempts to leave home?
Repeating the same action over and over
How can I stop my relative from calling home constantly?

How can I help my mum who repeatedly attempts to leave home?

This often happens in residential aged care and can make a carer feel very guilty. Some people with dementia may not even recognise their own home and attempt to leave.

If this behaviour is occurring in an aged care home it could be a sign that the person with dementia feels insecure and may need comforting. Try bringing in a familiar item from home. Decorating a family member's room similar to their surroundings at home can help a person feel more at ease and orientated.

If the person used to leave for work at a certain time of day, certain triggers such as finishing breakfast may indicate to the person that it is time to get to work. Sometimes trying to orientate a person to the fact that they don't work anymore is pointless. Try explaining that today is a day of rest, distract a person and get them busy with another activity.

Repeating the same action over and over

Repeatedly packing a bag or doing one activity constantly is a common behaviour of people living with dementia. Some people do tasks associated with a former job or hobby. If the person with dementia is happy then there is no harm letting them pursue the activity. For others it could be a sign of boredom and restlessness.

Try setting up an "office" with a filing system and a desk. Allow your family member the freedom to sort through the paper work or work on a computer if it's important to them.

Leave a cupboard of clothing to be rummaged and sorted as desired as opposed to continually trying to tidy up after a person with dementia.

Doing the dishes, folding linen or sweeping up the leaves can be soothing and familiar activities for people with dementia. Keeping busy and doing everyday things can contribute to an individual's sense of self and purpose.

How can I stop my relative from calling home constantly?

Many people with dementia will repeatedly phone home at all hours of the night. This can be very distressing for carers. If a family member lives far away you may worry about their safety if they ring overnight.

If your number is displayed prominently by the phone a person with dementia may call without real reason or because they feel anxious. If it becomes a real problem at night you may have to consider getting a phone with a number recognition so you can decide whether you want to pick it up or not. Try ringing a loved one first before bed. Take turns with family members. It can be very difficult to get someone to stop calling you. Purchasing a personal alarm system in case of an emergency may make you worry less and put your mind at ease.

If a loved one is in an aged care home ask staff not to call you unless it’s an emergency, having another family member available for calls on certain days can also help. You can always try calling first to make the person feel safe and loved to prevent a night call.

Helpful resources

Ring the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500 to talk to a counsellor at Alzheimer's Australia.
Contact The National Dementia Behaviour Advisory Service (NDBAS) on 1300 366 448. A national telephone line for carers or family concerned about the behaviour of people with dementia.