Have you ever witnessed someone with dementia staring at you or a wall and questioning yourself what was going through their mind? It can be a strange and maybe unsettling experience.
The reasons behind such behaviour include seeking familiarity, experiencing delusions, or coping with an overstimulating environment, causing fluctuations in attention and alertness.
Understanding why this behaviour occurs can illuminate these strange moments, allowing you to provide more compassionate and effective care. Let’s take a closer look at the causes of this prevalent yet perplexing habit, what it can mean for persons living with dementia, and ways to manage staring.
Reasons Why Dementia Patients Stare
While it’s impossible to definitively know what someone with dementia is thinking or feeling, several common explanations for staring include:
Difficulty Communicating
As dementia progresses, language abilities generally decrease, making it more difficult for patients to express their wants and complaints effectively. Staring could be their effort at communication. It could be a nonverbal form of connection, a silent request for attention, or simply an attempt to interact with their surroundings and the people around them. Recognising this as a form of communication can help the caregiver better understand and respond to their loved ones’ needs.
Visual Impairments
Many people with dementia experience vision problems, which can make it difficult for them to absorb visual information correctly. Staring may be an attempt to focus or grasp what they are seeing. Changes in depth perception, colour differentiation, and lack of recognition can all contribute to this behaviour. When dementia patients stare at others, they often try to make sense of the visual stimuli surrounding them, which can be overwhelming or confusing.
Hallucinations or Delusions
Patients suffering from dementia may occasionally have delusions or hallucinations that cause them to perceive things that aren’t there. They may be staring at something that is only visible to them when they do this. Because the patient may respond to these hallucinations or delusions in ways that are challenging to comprehend or control, this can be especially upsetting for both the patient and their carers.
Fear or Anxiety
The cognitive impairments associated with dementia often lead to feelings of fear, confusion, and anxiety. Staring might be a manifestation of these emotions as the patient tries to make sense of their environment or the people around them. Familiar faces or objects might provide a sense of security and comfort, which is why they might stare at these things for prolonged periods.
Lost in Thought
People suffering from dementia can give off the impression that they are not aware of their surroundings and are just staring out into space. This may indicate that they are lost in their own thoughts or memories, perhaps thinking back on earlier encounters. They may find their thoughts straying to other places and times; staring is an outward sign of this mental trip.
Confusion and Disorientation
Confusion and disorientation are frequent indications of dementia. Individuals may stare as they try to figure out where they are and what is occurring around them. Processing delays might result in extended periods of staring as they try to make sense of their surroundings. This confusion can be most noticeable in unfamiliar environments or during routine adjustments.
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Emotional Connection or Response
Staring may also be an attempt to develop an emotional connection with someone, particularly if the patient recognises the individual but is unable to communicate their sentiments verbally. They could be looking for an emotional response or attempting to read the feelings of those around them. Despite their cognitive limitations, this action might provide them with a sense of connection and engagement.
Sensory Stimulation
The brain’s responsiveness to sensory input can change in dementia patients. Staring may occur when they get overstimulated or under stimulated by their environment. This sensory overload or lack of stimulation might distress individuals and cause them to focus on particular sensory elements, such as light, colour, or motion, resulting in persistent staring. Understanding these sensory processing difficulties can assist carers in designing situations that are more comfortable and less overwhelming for people with patients.
What stage of dementia is staring?
Staring can occur at different stages of dementia and is typically dependent on the particular form of dementia as well as individual circumstances. It is not a definitive symptom of a particular stage of dementia.
Sometimes, in the early stages of dementia, an individual with dementia might stare as they are momentarily confused or have trouble digesting what they are seeing. Staring increases with the progression of dementia to the middle stage. Patients at this stage struggle with increased cognitive impairment, communication problems, and problems with sensory processing.
In the late stage of dementia, staring becomes more common and severe. Due to severe cognitive impairment and extensive sensory processing alterations, individuals may stare for extended periods. They may stare into space, things, or people without actively engaging.
Also Read: 101 Things to do with Dementia Patients
How to respond to staring behaviour?
- Stay Calm and Patient: If a person with dementia is sitting and staring blankly at a wall, approach them calmly without rushing. Sit beside them quietly for a moment before speaking. Say something reassuring like, “I’m here with you. Is there anything you need?”
- Engage Gently: If you notice someone staring at a photo on a table, gently approach them and say, “I see you’re looking at this picture. It’s from our last family gathering. Do you remember that day?” Use a soft, pleasant tone to engage them without startling them.
- Provide Reassurance: When you find a person staring with a worried expression, offer a comforting touch on their arm and say, “It’s okay; we’re having a nice day together. Everything is good.” It can help them feel safer being with you and hear your comments.
- Check for Comfort: If a person with dementia is staring and appears uncomfortable, check if they need something. Ask, “Are you feeling alright? Do you need something to drink or a change in position?” Address any discomfort they may be experiencing.
- Use Visual Aids: If they are staring blankly into space, place a photo album or a familiar object in front of them. You can say, “How about we look at these photographs together? They’re from our vacation last summer. I thought you might enjoy them.”
- Monitor Sensory Input: If the room is too bright or noisy, and you notice the person staring intently, adjust the environment. Dim the lights or lower the volume of the TV. Say, “Let’s make it a bit quieter and more comfortable for you.”
- Engage in Simple Activities: If the individual is staring and seems restless, offer a soft object like a stress ball or a blanket. You might say, “Would you like to hold this blanket? It’s soft and cosy. Let’s see if it helps you feel more relaxed.”
- Consult Healthcare Professionals: If the staring behaviour becomes frequent, and you’re unsure how to address it, schedule a consultation with the person’s doctor or a dementia specialist. Discuss their symptoms and get advice.
Also Read: Most Frequently Asked Questions about Dementia
What are the weird behaviours of an individual with dementia?
- Sundowning: Sundowning is defined as elevated agitation, disorientation, or restlessness that happens later in the afternoon or evening. This kind of situation is frequent among dementia patients and can impair sleep and everyday activities.
- Aggression: Exhibiting rapid outbursts of rage or anger, such as yelling or punching. This can be caused by frustration, confusion, or a failure to communicate effectively.
- Hoarding or Hiding Items: Gathering and storing unneeded stuff, such as newspapers, clothing, or food. For example, a person may fill their home with old newspapers or store stuff that they no longer utilise.
- Disinhibition: Dementia can cause disinhibited behaviour, such as making inappropriate statements, undressing in public, or engaging in socially unacceptable actions. This behaviour could be the result of changes in impulse control and perception.
- Wandering: Leaving their home or wandering aimlessly, such as strolling around the community with no specific destination. This could be due to confusion or an attempt to locate something familiar.
Read more about: How to Handle Aggressive Dementia Patients?
Conclusion
While staring in dementia patients can be unsettling, family members and carers can react more compassionately and empathetically if they are aware of the underlying causes. You may provide better support for individuals suffering from dementia by acknowledging their actions as a sign of the illness rather than a conscious choice. This will help to ensure that they feel safe, understood, and loved.
Remember that every patient with dementia is different and may exhibit a wide range of behaviours. To give them the greatest care possible, you must always be learning and changing to meet their requirements. Caretakers and dementia care professionals from Wise Choice can all offer customised counsel and direction. Our team of professionals can provide specialised assistance, helping you understand your loved one’s needs to improve their quality of life. Contact us for more information.
