How do you treat fear of falling by dementia patient?

Answer 1

I'm afraid that there aren't any specific treatments for dementia patients with phobias, so the main way in which you could treat the sufferer is by using the techniques already available:

- Systematic Desensitisation: Gradual exposure to the trigger until anxiety has decreased enough to cope or has completely gone. The sufferer would eventually realise that the trigger is not dangerous or life threatening and see the irrationality behind their fear.

- Flooding: Similar to above except instead of gradual exposure, you introduce a sudden mass exposure to the trigger in which the individual would experience high levels of stress and anxiety until their bodies can no longer sustain it and gives up. The sufferer would then begin to realise that the trigger is in fact safe and nonthreatening as they have endured such a level of fear without actually dying.

- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): This could be used in conjunction with the other two. CBT allows the person to explore and change the cognitive processes which has lead to their irrational fear. By changing these processes, they are able to change how they feel about a certain object or issue and as a result behave differently around it.

There is research available though, although very thin, to suggest that despite the mind being subject to dementia and other brain difficulties, that the brain is still able to learn and retain information even if the person themselves aren't consciously aware of it. So such treatments could be beneficial for the sufferer even if they are not aware of it.

You must consider though that it may be impossible to treat a dementia sufferer of their phobia as they may not be capable of the cognitive faculties in order for such a change to occur. Also you must be aware that using such treatments if the sufferer is not fully aware of what is actually happening may cause in necessary stress and discomfort, and could cause further damage such as increasing the frequency of the dementia's development or causing excessive strain on the heart and body.

Other alternatives you could use, if possible, are:

- For long journeys, you could give the sufferer a mild sedative which could put them to sleep over the period in which they will be flying. This is of course if you are willing and it is safe for the sufferer to do so.

- You could use depressants which would calm the sufferer down and reduce their anxiety of the situation for long enough for the flying part of the journey to end. This is again, of course if you are willing to do such things and it is safe to the sufferer to take such medication.

- You could also simply take the person on the journey and attempt to calm the person down during the flight etc. As it has been stated before, this is if you are willing to do such things, and if you choose this method, you should be aware of any conditions the suffer may have which have been lead to stress and ensure that taking such a venture is safe to do so.

There are many other options and treatments available, and you should seek professional medical help and ensure that all possible risks are accounted for before taking the journey with the sufferer. And remember that if it is possible, always try to make journeys which do not include flying to reduce the risks and make the journey more pleasant and comfortable.