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Anxious, Agitated or Distressed – A Person with Dementia Can Be Anxious and Agitated Why….?

Many factors can influence human behaviour and emotions, and anyone can have feelings of anxiety and agitation.

For a person with dementia or cognitive impairment this can be more common.

Anxious, agitated or distressed behaviour may be a manifestation of frustration, boredom, fear, confusion, pain, or an inability to ask for help.

It may be due to the medication being taken or by other circumstances which can affect the person’s ability to think.

Ultimately, the person with dementia may experience a profound loss of ability to deal with new information.

It is vitally important that nurses and carers have an understanding of their role in the observation and sensitive management of any patient who is experiencing these emotions. 

With the correct support and help, the patient’s quality of life can improve dramatically.

It is a fundamental need for people to feel understood, to feel of value and to be treated with respect, this has to be remembered at all times.  

The objective when creating an individual personal Plan of Care is to ensure the patient’s wishes, preferences, and needs are set out in great detail, and are at the centre of the Care Plan.

As always the starting point has to be consultation and discussion.

The patient’s life story, a day in their life, and the medical history should be completed, as this will give you a greater understanding of who the patient is, and of the past life experiences which have helped to shape that person into who they are today.

You then need to consider what might be the possible causes for the agitation and anxiety. You should carefully observe the patient to identify what might be causing this behaviour. 

It can be one or more of many differing factors, and these possibilities all need to be noted. 

The reason for the agitation may not be obvious, but by working through the care plan you start to build a better picture of the issues and the triggers. Your prime focus should be on observation.

Once you have formed a reasoned opinion the next stage is to set out the ways in which you think the patient’s anxiety or distress can or may be alleviated. You need to look at ways of supporting, calming and reassuring the patient.

You must record any medication which the patient has been prescribed, and carefully monitor for any side effects the patient may experience.

The Care Plan should be developed on an ongoing basis as the patient’s needs change and be continually evaluated and reviewed. 

The objective of this Care Plan is to help to recognise the triggers which cause the patient’s anxiety and agitation, develop an understanding and awareness in staff, enhance the patients quality of life, and to see the person not just the condition.