People with dementia experience the world differently than we do due to neurological changes. Their sensitivity to the environment can be extreme and their interpretation of what they see and hear can be distorted. Low stress thresholds are common; for example, something as simple as a loud TV can be overwhelming. They often misinterpret what they see and frightening hallucinations can trigger a major upset. Common triggers include environmental conditions, boredom, over-stimulation, physical pain, medical issues, medications, and tasks that are too complicated for the person's current abilities.

In their own words:

"Sometimes the sound of the radio makes my head almost scream...and my brow starts twitching. It really increases the confusion in my brain and I have difficulty processing my thoughts."

"Showering tends to overload my brain.......the onslaught of the water on my body...and the noise."

"There are people in the room. I am not undressing in front of them! Are you crazy?" (person referring to images in a photograph)

Hope for a Calmer Day

There is hope for a calmer day if you can learn to see the world through their eyes. This takes training - and you can start here, where you'll find explanations and advice from others who have been there before and are willing to share strategies that worked for them.

Not everyone is bothered by the same stimuli or events, so the first step is to find out what's upsetting the person you care for. Then you can remove the trigger(s) and the associated agitation. You'll both experience less stress and, hopefully, a calmer day.