There are many different types of behavioral changes in dementia, and repetitive behavior is one of them. Patients may repeat the same question or statement, perform the same movement, or carry out the same activity over and over again. This may provide them with a sense of security, which can ease anxiety. It may also be a way for the patient to make sense of their environment or surroundings.
Repetition often results from the fact that the person does not remember they already performed that action or asked that question, so they keep repeating it.
Causes of repetitive behaviors
There are many different causes for repetitive behavior in dementia including:
Memory loss: The ability to remember what a person has just said or asked becomes lost as dementia progresses.
Inability to understand what is happening: Simple everyday tasks may become unfamiliar, so the patient keeps asking the questions to better understand the situation.
Inability to understand a need or emotion: Expressing a need or emotion may become increasingly difficult, so the patient may use other means to convey a message. For example, they may pull off their shirt if they are too hot rather than voicing the issue.
Frustration: Frustration can arise when the patient feels as if what they are trying to say is misunderstood or is misinterpreted, so they repeat themselves to get the message across.
Stress and anxiety: Inability to interpret images and sounds can raise stress and anxiety. The patient may not be able to remember what just occurred.
Boredom: Repetitive behavior may be used as a means of stimulating oneself in case of boredom.
Side effects of medication: In some cases, repetitive behavior may be a side effect of some medications.
Tips to manage repetitive behavior in dementia
Dealing with repetitive behavior in dementia can be challenging, but there are ways to cope. For starters, remain calm. Reacting negatively can worsen the behavior. Eliminate any triggers that may be setting off this behavior. For example, if having shoes near the door prompts the patient to ask whether people are leaving, remove the shoes.
It is also advisable to keep a calm, non-distracting environment, write down repeated questions and have the answers to these questions posted around the house (for example, a post-it explaining what time the dinner is), think of different memory aids to prompt a patient’s memory so they don’t repeat themselves, and above all, work closely with their doctor to determine if the repetitive behavior is a result of a medication the patient is taking.
Kuna aina nyingi tofauti za mabadiliko ya tabia katika dementia, na tabia ya kurudia-rudia ni mojawapo. Wagonjwa wanaweza kurudia swali au taarifa ileile, kufanya mwendo uleule, au kufanya utendaji uleule tena na tena. Hilo laweza kuwapa hisia ya usalama, ambayo yaweza kupunguza wasiwasi. Pia inaweza kuwa njia ya mgonjwa kuelewa mazingira yake. Mara nyingi kurudia hutokana na ukweli kwamba mtu huyo hakumbuki kwamba tayari amefanya kitendo hicho au aliuliza swali hilo, kwa hiyo anaendelea kulirudia. Sababu za tabia ya kurudia-rudia: Kuna sababu nyingi za tabia ya kurudia-rudia katika dementia, ikiwa ni pamoja na: Kupoteza kumbukumbu: Uwezo wa kukumbuka kile mtu amesema au kuuliza unapotea wakati dementia inaendelea. Kutokuelewa: Kazi rahisi za kila siku zinaweza kuwa za kawaida, kwa hivyo mgonjwa anaendelea kuuliza maswali ili kuelewa hali hiyo vizuri. Kutokuweza kuelewa mahitaji au hisia: Kuelezea mahitaji au hisia inaweza kuwa vigumu zaidi, kwa hivyo mgonjwa anaweza kutumia njia nyingine kupeleka ujumbe. Kwa mfano, huenda wakivua shati lao ikiwa wana joto sana badala ya kusema jambo hilo. "Kukosa furaha: ""Kukosa furaha"" kunaweza kutokea wakati mgonjwa anahisi kana kwamba kile anachojaribu kusema hakijaeleweka au hakitafsiriwa vizuri, kwa hiyo anajirudia ili kupata ujumbe." Mkazo na wasiwasi: Kutokuwa na uwezo wa kutafsiri picha na sauti kunaweza kuongeza mkazo na wasiwasi. Huenda mgonjwa asikumbuke kilichotokea. Kuchoshwa: Tabia ya kurudia-rudia yaweza kutumiwa kama njia ya kujichochea katika hali ya kuchoshwa. Madhara ya dawa: Katika visa fulani, tabia ya kurudia-rudia yaweza kuwa athari ya dawa fulani. Kujipanga kwa tabia ya kurudia-rudia katika dementia inaweza kuwa ngumu, lakini kuna njia za kukabiliana nayo. Kwanza, endelea kuwa mtulivu. Kuitikia vibaya kwaweza kuharibu tabia hiyo. Ondoa visababishi vyovyote vinavyoweza kusababisha tabia hiyo. Kwa mfano, ikiwa kuwa na viatu karibu na mlango humfanya mgonjwa aulize ikiwa watu wanaondoka, vua viatu. Pia ni bora kuweka mazingira ya utulivu, bila kuingilia, kuandika maswali ya mara kwa mara na kuwa na majibu ya maswali haya yaliyowekwa karibu na nyumba (kwa mfano, post-it kuelezea ni saa ngapi ya chakula cha jioni), fikiria misaada tofauti ya kumbukumbu ili kuchochea kumbukumbu ya mgonjwa ili wasijirudishe, na juu ya yote, fanya kazi kwa karibu na daktari wao ili kuamua ikiwa tabia ya mara kwa mara ni matokeo ya dawa mgonjwa anachukua.