Fran Emerson, the program director for the Charleston Alzheimer’s Association, speaks with Sally Smith in this aging podcast about catastrophic reactions, which are sudden agitated acts toward a caregiver or family member. She notes that such reactions are motivated by underlying causes such as fear or fatigue. Ms. Emerson offers advice on how to approach a person in order to avoid a catastrophic reaction or diffuse the situation once begun. To conclude, the topic of forming new relationships with loved one’s diagnosed with Alzheimer’s is addressed.

If you enjoyed this podcast, you may be in interested in reading Sally Smith’s book, The Circle: A Walk with Dementia. For more information on The Circle, click here.