Anxiety and Alzheimer's is a common experience for the person with Alzheimer's, and in particular as they enter into mid-to-late stages.
The technique I use to calm my mother's anxiety is EFT (or Emotional Freedom Technique), http://www.emofree.com
and http://www.mercola.com/forms/eftcourse2.htm
EFT is based on meridian points (or energy centers of the body used in acupuncture). It involves tapping on the meridian points with your fingers. No needles are used.
EFT calms my mother who is 89 years old and in late stages. Every time she tells me she is afraid or I sense she is feeling fearful, I get busy "tapping." She lives with me, my husband and our five dogs. She has a paid caregiver during the day. I have taught EFT to her caregiver, who also uses the "tapping" technique regularly.
When I tap on my mother's meridian points, I also recite words similar to these: "You are safe. Even though you don't know you're safe, you're safe. You are safe and happy. You live with your daughter. I'm your daughter, and I won't let anything bad happen to you. I love you very much. And I take care of you. You are safe. Everyone loves you, and takes loving care of you. You are wonderful. You are a loving person. Everyone loves you. You are safe. You are safe. Nothing bad can happen to you." (You can make up your own words for you loved one.)
I tap and recite these words repeatedly for three rounds. A round includes tapping appx seven times at the fatty part of her dominate hand with my first two fingers. This is called the set up. Then I tap seven times on the top of her head, then seven times at the beginning edge of her eyebrows, then seven times at the side of her eyes, seven times under her eyes, seven times under her nose, seven times at her chin, seven times at about an inch below her collar bone, and seven times under her arm in between the top and bottom of her bra band. This takes no more than 10 minutes to perform the three rounds. (Tapping seven times is done quickly.)
When we conclude, I ask her to take three deep breaths. Sometimes she understands me and sometimes she doesn't. Either way, I take the deep breaths with and sometimes for her.
This technique works every time. Not only does she feel calmer but so do I.
