Agitation & Anxiety
The 24 sources listed below are individually rated by how they can help caregivers better understand and deal with agitation & anxiety in people with Alzheimer's disease or dementia.
Sources are ranked from highest to lowest.
Sources are ranked from highest to lowest.
ALZSmart Score™ - Extraordinary90%
Coping With Behavior Change in Dementia: A Family Caregiver's Guide
Beth Spencer and Laurie White
Pages 18-24
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
11 bullet points examining possible physical, medical, and emotional causes of anxiety, agitation, anger, and aggression; followed by 9 strategies to try to reduce behaviors. 5 environmental causes and strategies. There are also many communication strategies; plus staying safe.
ALZSmart Score™ - Excellent85%
Dementia Care Notes
Geo Location: All (IN)
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Extensive, organized, and well researched article on handling behavior challenges.
ALZSmart Score™ - Excellent85%
A Caregiver's Guide to Dementia
Laura N. Gitlin, PhD and Catherine Verrier Piersol, PhD, OTR/L
Pages 50-53
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Defines mild and severe agitation. Has 29 bullet points on common triggers. 11 strategies for preventing agitation. 19 bullet points on what to do if the person with dementia becomes upset.
ALZSmart Score™ - Very Good75%
WebMD
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Begins with 4 bullet points on keeping safe. That's followed by 20 bullet points on emotional triggers and other possible causes. Finally, there are 27 tips on how to prevent future problems.
ALZSmart Score™ - Very Good75%
WebMD
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Begins with looking at 6 signs of anxiety. That's followed by about 40 questions that may help find triggers and possible reasons for anxiety. Finally, there are 25 tips to try that may help reduce anxiety.
ALZSmart Score™ - Very Good75%
A Caregiver's Guide to Dementia
Laura N. Gitlin, PhD and Catherine Verrier Piersol, PhD, OTR/L
Pages 87-89
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Discusses 8 common triggers for anxiety. 19 bullet points on strategies to help manage fears and suffering.
ALZSmart Score™ - Good65%
UCLA Alzheimer's and Dementia Program
Xavier E. Cagigas, PhD
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
[Video 5:46] Scenario-based video that shows agitation towards a caregiver. The video has four parts: an example of a common response, expert explanation, recommended reponse, plus 6-8 tips for dealing with aggression.
ALZSmart Score™ - Good65%
Patients Engage
Neha Sinha, CEO Epoch Eldercare
Geo Location: All (IN)
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Starts with a couple of scenarios and focus on agitation from the patients point-of-views. Has 13 bullet points of possible triggers. Concludes with 7 tips on how the handle or prevent agitation.
ALZSmart Score™ - Good65%
Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias: The Caregiver's Complete Survival Guide
Nataly Rubinstein, MSW, LCSW, C-ASWCM
Pages 213-217
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
General description of anxiety and some of the root causes. Has a list of 10 suggestions for coping. Also discusses the 'big four' in anxiety: food, shelter, clothing, and family.
ALZSmart Score™ - Good65%
Confidence to Care (aka Home Instead)
Molly Carpenter
Pages 32-37
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Briefly examines why agitation and anxiety happens. Has 18 bullet points for care approaches.
ALZSmart Score™ - Good65%
IONA
Bill Amt, LICSW
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Offers 9 bullet points that describes possible causes. Lists 6 physical signs of anger to be aware of in the person with Alzheimer's. Has 4 bullet points on the caregiver's ways of expressing anger. 15 bullet points on healthy ways to deal with anger.
ALZSmart Score™ - Good60%
Dementia Australia
Geo Location: All (AU)
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Examines causes and lists a dozen frequent triggers for agitation behaviors. Has 10 bullet points to help avoid agitation. Also 3 tips on dealing with agitated behaviors.
ALZSmart Score™ - Good60%
Surviving Alzheimer's (2nd Edition)
Paula Spencer Scott
Pages 173-177
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Begins with an example to illustrate agitated behavior. Describes possible causes using 6 'why' factors. The 'try' section includes 5 bullet points. Then there are 5 tips on how to avoid agitated responses.
ALZSmart Score™ - Good60%
The Dementia Caregiver
Marc E. Agronin, MD
Pages 144-145
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Written from the view point of a geriatic psychiatrist. Examines the symptoms of anxiety. Reviews some of the challenges of treating the symptoms of anxiety in person with dementia. Also discusses mediations for treating anxiety.
ALZSmart Score™ - Average50%
Elder Care Online
Rich O'Boyle, Editor
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Has a general overview followed by a list of 6 stressors can trigger agitation behaviors. Ends with 4 bullet points on what can be done to manage agitation.
ALZSmart Score™ - Average50%
VeryWell Health
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Show some statistics on the prevalence of agitation in dementia. Next, discusses how to respond to agitation by investigating the cause and individualize the approach. Also has 4-6 suggestions addressing unmet needs.
ALZSmart Score™ - Average45%
National Institute on Aging (ADEAR)
Geo Location: All (US)
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
There are 11 bullet points on the causes for agititation or aggressive behavoirs. Also includes 11 tips for coping with agitation or aggression. Plus there is a one minute video.
ALZSmart Score™ - Average45%
The 36-Hour Day (6th Edition)
Nancy L. Mace, MA and Peter V. Rabins, MD, MPH
Pages 178-180
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Explains some of the inexplicable causes agitation. Adds context to the specific agitation response.
ALZSmart Score™ - Average45%
Veteran's Affairs
James Rudolph, MD
Geo Location: All (US)
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
[Video 6:01] Centered around a hypothetical example of a caregiver dealing with agitation. Shows what not to do, then shows an example of a preferred approach. Explores 4 bullet points of causes. Has 3 bullet points that frame the preferred approach.
ALZSmart Score™ - Average40%
Alzheimer's Association
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Offers 5 bullet points on possible causes. Has 5 tips to help prevent or reduce agitation. 8 bullet points of how to respond.
ALZSmart Score™ - Satisfactory25%
Dementia Care Central (National Institute on Aging)
Geo Location: All (US)
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Also in includes 6 tips for handling emotional distress (near the middle of the web page) and 5 tips for handling behavioral challenges (near the bottom of the web page).
ALZSmart Score™ - Satisfactory25%
Daily Caring
Ben Atkinson-Willes
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Provides 5 tips on reduce agitation by modifying the environment.
ALZSmart Score™ - Satisfactory25%
D4Dementia
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Uses the story of a close family member to describe and explain the issue of agitation in a loved one. Examines the caregiver unwittingly projecting anxiety.
ALZSmart Score™ - Fair15%
Learning to Speak Alzheimer's
Joanne Koenig Coste
Pages 123-124
Geo Location: All
ALZSmart Review™ - Summary of Contents
Brief discussion with two paragraphs on anxiety.
