Manifestations	Behavioral Interventions
Impaired recall of recent events.	Use reminders (notes, single-day calendars, cues).
	Talk with patient about recent events.
Impaired functioning, especially complex tasks. Gradual withdrawal from activities. Lowered tolerance of new ideas and changes in routine.	Avoid stressful situations.
	Do not ask for more than the patient can do.
	Keep the environment, schedule, routines the same.
	Maintain normal mealtime routine.
	Have items in the same place and in view.
Difficulty finding words.	Anticipate what the patient is trying to say.
	Provide word or respond to thought/feeling.
Repetitive statements.	Be tolerant and respond like it is the first time stated or heard.
Decreased judgment and reasoning.	Assess safety of driving and other desired activities. Allow performance of skills as long as safe.
Becoming lost.	Accompany on walks.
	Provide safe and secure walking area.
Inconsistency in ordinary tasks of daily living.	Ignore inconsistencies.
	Help to maintain consistency by keeping needed items in view and maintaining routines.
Increasing tendency to misplace things.	Keep items in the same place and in view.
	Find things and replace or hand to the patient without focusing on the forgetfulness.
Narrowing of interests. Living in the past.	Maintain familiar social, physical, mental, and work activities.
Self-centered thoughts; restlessness or apathy.	Focus on the patient and listen.
	Allow pacing or sleeping.
Preoccupation with physical functions.	Assist in maintaining normal physical functions (basic and instrumental activities of daily living).

Manifestations	Environmental Interventions
Increased forgetfulness (meals, medications, people, self).	Place food where patient can see and reach it.
	Hand medications to patient.
	Remove mirrors.
Untidiness, hoarding, rummaging.	Put things away as desired; do not expect patient to put them away.
	Provide a chest of drawers for hoarding or rummaging.
Difficulty with basic activities of daily living.	Keep needed objects in sight/reach.
	Do for the patient what he or she cannot, but allow the patient to do as much as possible.
	Provide assistive equipment: shower stool, elevated seat.
Wandering, becoming lost.	Close and perhaps lock doors on stairways and rooms that the patient should not access.
	Fence the yard.
	Place cues to help recognize rooms or objects.
	Avoid physical and chemical restraints while providing areas for wandering and resting.[15]
Uncoordinated motor skills, poor balance.	Have nonshiny floors without contrasting colors or patterns.
	Provide soft environment.
Repetition of words or activities.	Provide environment where repetitive activities can safely be done.
Reversed sleep-wake cycles.	Provide activities in daytime.
	Provide room where the patient can safely be up alone for a time.
	Put back to bed with usual bedtime routine.
Loss of contact with reality; hallucinations, confusion.	Make available materials for activities that the patient enjoyed throughout life.
	Keep picture albums with old pictures.
	Keep the patient's room location and layout unchanged.
	Remove confusing stimuli.
	Ignore hallucinations unless they are distressing to the patient; remain calm; act normally.
Withdrawal	Provide meaningful stimuli.
	Provide place for quiet time.
Agitation	Remove objects that could be damaging.
	Provide space.
	Redirect or distract calmly.
Impaired judgment.	Provide safe environment.
	Have unsafe objects out of sight.
Altered sensory-perceptual functioning.	Provide good lighting.
	Have nonshiny floors without contrasting colors or patterns.