Alzheimer's - IS PROMISCIOUS BEHAVIOR THAT IS ESCALATING (W/NO PRIOR BEHAVIOR PROBLEM) SOMETHING TO BE AWARE OF

Wednesday, November 04, 2009

N.C.

I am not sure in what sense you are talking and what kind of elders you are referring to and what sex gender and etc. What situations and etc.

However I can relate to this from my experiences with my FIL. He used to be very proper and a good loyal husband to his late wife. In the first 3 years after she died, he chased after a lady friend wanting to marry her but it didn't work out. He was diagnosed AD soon after this whole episode. Starting right after the diagnosis (moderate AD), he started hitting on many ladies - different race, age and whoever. He was even confused with me this year. He has not done anything as no one would let him, but he acts like a womenizer wanting to get just anyone to be his wife or mate. This does not work out as he is getting sicker and sicker.

My feelings is that he just wants to find someone and so he picks anyone out of whoever that is close to him. He is confused and also he forgot that he was just talking very close with a lady friend earlier so he hit on another.

I think he knows he picks anyone at any time because he is desperate. But I believe it is due to AD that he is confused and he now has very low level of recognition of people around him or in his memory. He is afraid of photos now.

It is a matter of recognition of the people.

Nina

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Thursday, November 05, 2009

Christine Kennard

Hi Nurse 123

I am not sure whether you mean will his/her behavior become more 'promiscuous' or are you worried about whether the behavior might lead to something more dangerous? I need to have more information so that I could give you a more accurate answer that might be more helpful and give you ideas about assessment and nursing care.

In my experience what you term 'promiscuous' behavior in elderly people with dementia does not usually escalate to any sort of dangerous behavior. It does, however, require a sensitive and a consistant approach from caregivers to reduce or stop the behavior.

I have written a sharepost about Coping with Disinhibited and Inappropriate Sexual Behavior that you may find helpful.

Please get back to me

Christine

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Wednesday, November 11, 2009

AFA Social Services

Although I am not certain what you mean by “promiscuous” behavior, you might be referring to an onset of inappropriate or sexually-based behaviors. Since you mentioned that there were no previous behavioral problems, it sounds as if this person’s symptoms are relatively new. In any situation where there is a change, it is necessary to seek medical consultation right away to determine if there are underlying causative factors. A doctor may be able to offer treatments or suggest helpful interventions to properly deal with these behaviors.

It is important to remember that a person with dementia can have impaired judgment and short-term memory loss. This means that he or she may no longer understand what he or she is doing, and forget things mere moments after they occur. The person you describe may no longer be able to tell right from wrong, proper from improper, or what is deemed socially acceptable. He or she might not grasp the idea that the behavior could be offensive to other people. Sometimes caregivers try to help individuals understand that their behavior is inappropriate, but they are typically unsuccessful because individuals with dementia often cannot hold onto information for long periods of time – which could explain why behaviors are exhibited repeatedly. It is also possible that the person is in search of comfort, and is simply recreating feelings or memories from the past that are linked to happier times. It is crucial to understand that this behavior is not motivated and the person is not acting in such a way to upset or offend anyone.

Again, speak with the physician to find out if there are forms of medications that can help manage this individual’s behavior. If all medical interventions have been exhausted, you may want to try getting him or her involved in recreational activities that will redirect the attention to something more positive. Perhaps you can try choosing an activity that utilizes motor activities, particularly one that requires the use of hands. Cooking, gardening, pet therapy, arts and crafts, or any activity that the person can relate to and succeed at, are good choices

Thank you for your input
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Wednesday, November 11, 2009

AFA Social Services

Although I am not certain what you mean by “promiscuous” behavior, you might be referring to an onset of inappropriate or sexually-based behaviors. Since you mentioned that there were no previous behavioral problems, it sounds as if this person’s symptoms are relatively new. In any situation where there is a change, it is necessary to seek medical consultation right away to determine if there are underlying causative factors. A doctor may be able to offer treatments or suggest helpful interventions to properly deal with these behaviors.

It is important to remember that a person with dementia can have impaired judgment and short-term memory loss. This means that he or she may no longer understand what he or she is doing, and forget things mere moments after they occur. The person you describe may no longer be able to tell right from wrong, proper from improper, or what is deemed socially acceptable. He or she might not grasp the idea that the behavior could be offensive to other people. Sometimes caregivers try to help individuals understand that their behavior is inappropriate, but they are typically unsuccessful because individuals with dementia often cannot hold onto information for long periods of time – which could explain why behaviors are exhibited repeatedly. It is also possible that the person is in search of comfort, and is simply recreating feelings or memories from the past that are linked to happier times. It is crucial to understand that this behavior is not motivated and the person is not acting in such a way to upset or offend anyone.

Again, speak with the physician to find out if there are forms of medications that can help manage this individual’s behavior. If all medical interventions have been exhausted, you may want to try getting him or her involved in recreational activities that will redirect the attention to something more positive. Perhaps you can try choosing an activity that utilizes motor activities, particularly one that requires the use of hands. Cooking, gardening, pet therapy, arts and crafts, or any activity that the person can relate to and succeed at, are good choices