Because individuals with Alzheimer’s and dementia can regularly experience feelings of disorientation and confusion, they sometimes engage in behaviors that seem inappropriate to their surroundings. While some these behaviors—such as wandering—can result in circumstances most of us would prefer to avoid, other seemingly inappropriate behaviors—such as undressing—do not have as great a chance of causing much alarm.
Inappropriate undressing may not give much cause for alarm; however, if you find your loved one removing articles of clothing during a time normally deemed inappropriate for undressing, you should still do what you can to handle the situation with care. Even though the behavior isn’t likely to lead to a stress-inducing circumstance, an over-reaction on your part or the part of the caregiver could lead to embarrassment or other forms of emotional distress for your loved one.
Since you know your loved one’s personality better than anyone else, you’ll likely already have some insight as to how to respond to your loved one’s inappropriate behavior. In most case you’ll simply want to gently direct your loved one to an appropriate setting where he or she can disrobe without disturbing anyone else. However, in the event you have questions about how to handle a situation—especially one that occurs in public venue—you may want to contact an Ohio elder attorney. A qualified elder law attorney can provide you with resources and information you need to navigate any potentially overwhelming situation involving your loved one.
