How to respond when a person living with dementia is feeling depressed or anxious

How to respond when a person living with dementia is feeling depressed or anxious?

Let’s look at an example

Bilal has dementia and lives with his sister, Iman. On several occasions Iman has found Bilal sitting in his favorite chair looking very sad, hunched over, and sometimes crying. Iman tries to cheer him up. Unfortunately, everything that she tries does not seem to work.

1. Check your understanding

Responding to a person with dementia who is feeling depressed.

Below are some things that Iman may do or say. Please select all responses that you think might work.

Walk over to Bilal and say in a calm, reassuring tone, “I have some ideas about how you can feel better, let’s talk.
This is a good response because Bilal needs more support due to the changes in his mood.

Say: “Bilal, what’s the matter with you? I’m tired of seeing you like this. Just get up and do something.”
This response is not helpful because Bilal cannot help that he is feeling sad.

Say: “men don’t cry and get sad, we used to have so much fun together.”
This response is not good because it might embarrass Bilal and may make him feel even more sad.

Go over and touch Bilal on the arm or shoulder. “I know that you feel bad, I do too. What we’re going through is really hard.”
This is a good response because people who are feeling sad need extra love, support and understanding.

Sit with Bilal and suggest that they do a pleasant activity together.
This is a good response because it may distract Bilal and make him feel better.

Sigh and walk away, thinking that there is nothing that she can do.
This is not helpful because Iman is further isolating Bilal.

Here is another example

Maysa has dementia and lives with her family. Omar is her grandson. Because Omar’s parents work and he is in school, he is the main carer in the afternoons. Omar is watching a TV show while his grandmother is sewing. The TV show has loud music and vulgar language. Suddenly, his grandmother jumps up and paces up

and down the room, wringing her hands. She is muttering to herself “I need to go home”, “I need to go home”.

2. Check your understanding

Responding to a person with dementia who is feeling anxious.

How do you think that Omar should respond to this situation?
Below are some things that Omar may do or say. Please select all the correct responses.

Think “Grandmother cannot help the way that she behaves.”
This is a good response because it recognizes that Maysa’s reaction might be due to changes in her brain.

Say “Grandmother! Sit down, you’re making it impossible for me to watch my show.”
This response is not good because a direct order like this may make Maysa feel even more anxious.

Give his grandmother a smile and reassure her that she is safe.
This response is not good because people who are feeling anxious need extra love and support.

Ask his grandmother to help him with something.
This might help because it might distract Maysa and change her reaction.

Turn up the volume to drown out the muttering and turn away from her.
This is not a good response It will only increase his grandmother’s anxiety.

Look for his headphones and encourage his grandmother to go back to her sewing so that she is busy.
This is a good response. Omar can still watch TV with headphones so it is not too loud for Maysa, and Maysa might be able to engage in her sewing again.

Lesson 4. Depression, anxiety or apathy

How to respond when a person living with dementia is feeling depressed or anxious

Our Partners

Our Accreditations

National Insurance Scheme

Hamad Medical Corporation

Latest Facebook Posts

Latest Twitter Posts