Caring for the Client With Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's Disease

Type of dementia characterized by loss of memory and confusion.

Catastrophic Behavior

Severe and unpredictable violent behavior of a person with dementia.

Dementia

Loss of cognitive function such as thinking, remembering, and reasoning.

Habilitation

Focusing on what a client can do, not what the client used to do.

Hoarding

Collecting items or things.

Pillaging

Client with dementia will take things or items that belong to someone else and think they are the client's own.

Reality Orientation

Techniques used to keep clients in touch with reality.

Reminiscence

The act or process of recalling the past.

Repetitive Behaviors

The client will repeat the same sentence, question, or behavior repeatedly; often seen in the middle stage of dementia.

Shadowing

The client with dementia follows the caregiver or another person around.

Sundowning

Clients with dementia become more confused, agitated, and disoriented toward the end of the day.

Suspiciousness

A client with dementia may forget where he or she placed something and blame others for stealing the item.

Validation Therapy

A communication technique designed to foster positive self-esteem by confirming the feelings of another.

Wandering

Moving around purposelessly; often seen in clients with dementia.