Restlessness and irritability in dementia is common. The use of sensory products can therefore be effective in reducing experienced restlessness and irritability in demented elderly people.
In this article we zoom in on the following aspects:
- (movement) restlessness and dementia
- How do you recognize restless behavior in dementia?
- some tools/products to calm people with dementia
Unrest in Dementia
People with dementia can express restless behavior in different ways. In many people with dementia, we see that the restlessness mainly manifests itself in movement restlessness. In addition, aggression and irritability also occur in some of the elderly with dementia.
Restless behavior in dementia manifests itself, among other things, drumming with the fingers, shuffling with the feet, sliding drawers open and closed, or wandering around the house (sometimes also looking to go home or looking for parents). Unrest can be very tiring and annoying for the person with dementia and his environment. Restless behavior can be a symptom of dementia.
Some people with dementia are restless. They don’t feel comfortable. They feel that they are not safe and react with unrest and agitation. They get stimulated and start looking. Sometimes they mess things up in the house.
How do you recognize anxiety in dementia?
Some people are already restless of themselves. They can never sit still and are always busy with something. In dementia, there is no clear reason to show the restless behavior. Often the person with dementia does not know why he or she is doing something.
Characteristics of restless behavior in dementia are
• Looking for something but not knowing what or why. For example, to a parent who has been deceased for years.
• Waiting and looking at the clock or out the window. The person with dementia has the feeling that he is waiting for something or someone, while there are no appointments.
• Make restless movements, such as tapping, wiggling feet, or clicking with a pen.
• Easily distracted and unable to keep up with attention. Watching a movie is not possible.
• Sometimes the person with dementia exhibits impulsive or uninhibited behavior. Then he or she suddenly wants to go outside, vacuum or sing loudly.
• The person with dementia can hardly be alone and always wants to be in company.
• Some people with dementia pull on the sleeves of the sweater with teeth or suck on the collar of the sweater. Elderly people with dementia sometimes have difficulty falling asleep. But also restlessness during the night which manifests itself in turning and getting out of bed and wandering around.
Tools to calm people with dementia
Some products that help to calm people with dementia.
Oliz is the weighted stuffed sloth
Bent the Sloth of OLIZ has a relaxing effect. He helps you deal with stress, anxiety and overstimulation. Bent’s weight provides a comfortable deep pressure, similar to a hug that provides a pleasant, safe and protected feeling.
Weight bags have been inserted into each arm that can be easily removed. There is also a wide elastic bracelet on one arm so that you can attach both of Bent’s hands to each other so that you can hang it around the older person’s neck and then rest it on your lap.
Weighting blanket Flora
The weighted blanket Flora helps adults with dementia to relax. Place the weighted blanket on the duvet and experience how the body relaxes due to the deep pressure of this beautiful design blanket from Oliz. The even pressure in the weighted blanket is a nice alternative to a heavy duvet. It is a good tool for people with dementia who sleep restlessly.
Crunchy animal
The Crunchy Animals are tough stuffed animals filled with 100% organic buckwheat shells and some lavender flowers, which gives off a subtle calming aroma and an amazing tactile hand feeling. Various shapes hide in his body, this raccoon has a wooden ring with a soft woolen ball in his body. Busy fingers naturally find their way through the fabric and practice their fine motor skills when searching for the shapes. The crackling of the caps gives an auditory stimulus. Just squeezing the stuffed animal and feeling the buckwheat caps move under the stretchy cotton surface creates a calming sensation. It can be a huge help when the person with dementia is trying to overcome overwhelming situations, during short or long trips, or at bedtime.
Hexichew chewigem chew product
The hexichew from Chewigem is a unique chewing product! The hexichew is suitable for average chewing needs. The hexichew chewing products are suitable for children and adults, for example people with dementi, who also like to fidget. The chew-fidgeting product is a safe chewing product that your child can also fidget with. The nice thing about this product is that if you buy several you can link them together by placing the spheres through the round openings. But even with 1 copy you can get enough fidgeting and what is so nice, it is chew-resistant! In short, a unique chewing product that meets movement restlessness.
Manimo stress ball
The Manimo Stress Ball is a delicious sensory stress ball filled with plastic granulate granules.
These shimmering seed bags from Manimo feel great because of the stretchy Lycra version and the delicious ‘seeds’. It really reduces stress. Squeezing your fingers and fidgeting in the stress ball is really relaxing. Once in your hands, don’t put this stress ball away so quickly! The shimmering fabric provides extra visual perception. The granules make something of a rustling sound, a bit like a rainmaker. Ideal for elderly people with dementia who fidget with clothes or sit continuously with fellow residents.
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