Behaviour & Distress Support Workbook
Practical worksheets to understand dementia behaviour, identify triggers, and respond calmly to agitation and distress. Free sample included.
When a person living with dementia becomes distressed, agitated, or aggressive, it can feel overwhelming and upsetting. But behaviour is a form of communication — it almost always has a reason behind it.
This workbook helps you look beyond the behaviour itself to understand the unmet need or trigger driving it, so you can respond in a way that reduces distress for your loved one and for you. Below is a free sample of the worksheets from the full workbook.
Understanding the Behaviour — the ABC Approach
The ABC method helps you uncover the pattern behind a distressing moment. Each time a behaviour happens, note these three things — over a week, patterns often appear.
Spotting Triggers & Unmet Needs
Distress is often a sign of an unmet need. Before assuming it is “just the dementia,” gently check for these common triggers:
In-the-Moment Calming Toolkit
When distress rises, your calm presence matters more than any words. Tick the strategies that work best for your loved one and keep them somewhere handy.