The Six "R's" of Behavior Management
- Restrict
Try to get the person to stop what he is doing, especially if the person might harm himself or others. Remember, though, trying to make the person stop, may upset him more.
- Reassess
Ask yourself:
- Might a physical illness or drug reaction be causing the problem?
- Might the person be having difficulty seeing or hearing?
- Is something upsetting him?
- Could the annoying person or object be removed?
- Might a different approach upset the person less?
- Reconsider
Ask yourself how things must seem from the patient's point of view. People with dementia are often unaware of the extent of their impairment. When you try to bathe or dress someone who does not understand that he needs help, he may get upset. The person's anxiety is understandable when things are going on that he can't make sense of.
- Rechannel
Look for a way that the behavior can continue in a safe and nondestructive way. The behavior may be important to the person in some way that we cannot understand.
- Reassure
When a person has been upset, fearful, or angry, take time to reassure him that things are all right and that you still care for him. While the person may not remember the reassurance, he may retain the feeling of having been reassured and cared for. Take time to reassure yourself - you are doing the best you can with a demanding and difficult job.
- Review
Afterward, think over what happened and how you managed it.
- What can you learn from this experience that will help you next time?
- What led up to this behavior?
- How did you respond to it?
- What did you do right?
- What might you try next time?
Source: Mace, N. and Rabins, P. 1991. "The 36-Hour Day." Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press. Compiled by the Lincoln/Greater Nebraska Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, 1999.
For further information about Alzheimer's Disease or related disorders, contact the Alzheimer's Association at: