For instance, decluttering the environment, using music or simple activities that help to engage a person with dementia, or using a calm voice instead of being confrontational, could help greatly to reduce behavioral symptoms, Dr. Kales said. Making sure that caregivers get breaks from their responsibilities and take care of themselves, especially in the home, can help them avoid burnout and taking their frustration out on patients.
“Behavior-based strategies may take longer [to work] than prescriptions,” acknowledged Dr. Kales. “But if you teach people the principles behind DICE, the approach becomes more natural and part of one’s routine. It can be empowering for caregivers or nursing home staff.”
More research on new drug options and the best ways to assess and address behavioral symptoms is needed, the authors noted. In the meantime, the evidence to date favors nonpharmacologic approaches to these symptoms in most cases, they concluded.