Symptoms of AD appear gradually and tend to start with memory loss. Patients tend to become disoriented and start to lose their communication abilities. Mood and behavior change, leading to aggressiveness, wandering, and withdrawal. Eventually, the patient loses all ability to care for himself or herself.

When working with a patient with AD, in addition to helping the resident continue to do things for himself or herself, which can slow AD’s progression, there are things you can do to make it easier to work with a resident with this frustrating and debilitating condition.

• Do not take their behavior personally.
• Treat residents with AD with dignity and respect, as you would want to be treated.
• Work with the symptoms and behaviors you see.
• Work as a team.
• Encourage communication.
• Take care of yourself.
• Work with family members.
• Follow the goals of the resident care plan.

When communicating with the patient,

Do not startle the patient. Always approach from the front.

• Determine how close the resident wants you to be.
• Speak slowly in a calm, low voice, preferably in a room that has little background noise.
• Always identify yourself and use the resident’s name.
• Repeat yourself as often as needed.
• Use signs, pictures, gestures, or written words, if needed.
• Break complex tasks into smaller, simpler ones, giving simple step-by-step instructions when needed.

In no field more than in nursing will you hear the word “professionalism” used on a regular basis. For the record, it is has nothing to do with how you live your life outside of your job.  Instead, professionalism is a set of standards as to how you do your job – how you dress, how you do your job, the words you use, and what you talk about.

Professionalism with a resident includes:

• Keeping a positive attitude
• Doing only the tasks you are trained to do
• Keeping residents; information confidential
• Being polite and cheerful at all times
• Not discussing your personal problems
• Refraining from using profanity
• Listening to a resident
• Calling residents by proper titles
• Always explaining care before you give it
• Following practices, such as hand washing, to protect both you and the residents.

With an employer, professional behavior includes:

• Completing tasks efficiently
• Following all policies and procedures
• Careful and correct documentation
• Reporting anything that keeps you from completing duties
• Asking questions when you do not understand something
• Objectively taking directions and criticism
• Being clean and neatly dressed and groomed
• Always being on time
• Telling your employer if you cannot report for work
• Following the chain of command
• Participating in education programs
• Being a positive role model

Above all else, professional behavior involves putting your patients’ needs above your own and always maintaining a positive image to your employer, as well as to your patients and their families.