Managing difficult social situations
The behavioural changes associated with dementia can sometimes result in difficult social situations.
Dementia can cause changes in parts of the brain that control social skills and this can sometimes cause people to be impulsive or disinhibited, or say things that seem rude. Lorraine Haining, Specialist Dementia Nurse, Dementia Carers Count
Dementia can affect social skills
Difficult social situations may arise as dementia can cause changes in parts of the brain that control social skills. This can sometimes cause people to be impulsive or disinhibited, or say things that seem rude.
It is important to remember that these behaviours arise from neural damage and are not intended to cause distress to others.
Traits that can accompany dementia
There are certain traits that often accompany dementia. These can include:
- speaking less, speaking repetitively or shouting
- a lack of motivation or an inability to see things from other people’s perspective
- excessive spending of money
- changes in sexual behaviour
- obsessive behaviour and hoarding
When supporting a person with any of these changes, it is important to communicate clearly both verbally – through what you say – and non-verbally, for example through your facial expression and gesture. Lorraine Haining, Specialist Dementia Nurse, Dementia Carers Count
Even though the challenges can be emotionally tough on you as well, always try and approach every situation with a ‘clean slate’ and a positive attitude to ensure they are not demonised for it.
How to manage difficult social situations
Talk to the person you care for about how they would like you to let other people know what happened.
One good way of doing this can be carrying little cards that can be subtly passed to people that say sometime like:
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Carer Support Line
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