Behavioral changes related to illness: activities, resources, and concrete adjustments to implement
When an illness alters the behavior of a loved one — agitation at the end of the day, the same questions asked ten times, sudden refusal of personal care, moments of apathy where nothing seems to affect them — we rarely seek a theory. We look for what to do, now, this evening. This article brings together activities, tools, and concrete adjustments to support behavioral changes related to illness, applicable starting tomorrow, without specialized equipment or medical expertise.
In this article
The associated training
The cited resources
Emotion ThermometerDiscover →
Conversation CardsDiscover →
Facial Expressions DecoderDiscover →
Choice Wheel - DYNSEO Training ToolsDiscover →
Voice ScaleDiscover →Printable notebooks — SCARLETT Collection
This is a toolbox, not a course. Fifteen activities described in enough detail to be launched immediately, an organization of the day and week, adjustments to the living space room by room, free printable resources, and the role of digital tools. Each proposal indicates an objective, the materials needed, the procedure, an easier version, a more difficult version, and the sign that shows it is working. Nothing here replaces the advice of professionals who support your loved one: these activities complement them.
The essentials in 30 seconds
In the face of behavioral disorders, the most effective action is not to reason with the person but to modify their surroundings and engage them differently. The High Authority of Health recommends prioritizing non-drug approaches before any treatment.
- Look for the trigger — a difficult behavior is almost always a response to something: pain, noise, fatigue, unexpressed needs.
- Adjust before correcting — lowering noise, increasing light, simplifying cues defuses more crises than any speech.
- Engage, don’t perform — an activity that makes sense and brings pleasure calms better than an imposed exercise.
- Stable routines — same times, same gestures, same cues: predictability reassures and reduces anxiety.
- Observe and communicate — noting what triggers and what calms guides professionals much better than a vague memory.
The 4 rules before starting
Before choosing an activity, you need to adopt a few reflexes. They change everything because they shift the question. We stop asking ourselves “how to stop this behavior” and start asking “what is this behavior trying to say”. Most of the time, the person is neither unwilling nor provocative: they express, with the means they have left, discomfort, fear, or a need.
Look for the trigger
Before reacting, observe what preceded it: a pain, a noise, a mirror, an unknown person, a long instruction. The trigger is almost always found in the minutes leading up to it.
Soothing rather than reasoning
Arguing fuels tension. Validate the emotion — “I see that this worries you” — before suggesting a gentle diversion to another activity or room.
Always at the same pace
The same hours, the same gestures, the same references provide security. Routine is not rigidity: it is a framework that reassures and reduces underlying anxiety.
Note what works
One line per episode: time, probable trigger, what calmed. This notebook becomes the most valuable tool in consultation and for adjusting support.
A new behavior, sudden agitation, unusual withdrawal, or confusion that worsens within a few hours may indicate a treatable medical cause: pain, urinary infection, dehydration, medication effect, constipation. Do not try to manage them alone with activities: talk to the attending physician. The suggestions below accompany already known and monitored disorders; they do not replace diagnosis or treatment.
To understand what is happening behind these manifestations — why the disease alters mood, memory, or inhibition — you can read our complete guide on behavior changes related to the disease. Here, we focus on the concrete: what to do, with what, at what time.
Soothe agitation and anxiety
Agitation, anxiety, and irritability are among the most challenging manifestations for those around. They often rise at identifiable moments: late afternoon, before care, in an overly stimulating environment. These four activities aim to reduce tension or, better yet, anticipate it before it erupts.
The box to occupy hands
- Objective — channel motor agitation, provide a reassuring sensory occupation when words are lacking.
- Materials and duration — a box filled with objects to manipulate: skeins of wool, bolts to screw onto a board, fabrics of various textures, large buttons to sort. 10 to 20 minutes, without strict instructions.
- Procedure — place the box in front of the person when agitation begins, without demanding anything. Accompany them in the action rather than in a result: sort, wrap, screw, fold.
- Easier — a single type of object with a pleasant texture, to crumple or caress.
- More difficult — associate objects by color or size, or reconstruct pairs of buttons.
- Sign that it works — hands settle, breathing slows, the person engages in the activity.
The discharge walk
- Objective — to release excess energy or anxiety through movement, rather than trying to immobilize the person.
- Materials and duration — a safe and clear path, indoors or outdoors, 5 to 15 minutes. Closed shoes, usual technical aid.
- Procedure — when the person is pacing or getting agitated, we walk beside them instead of holding them back, speaking little and calmly. Simply accompanying the movement transforms it into a shared walk.
- Easier — a round trip in the hallway, several times, with a support point.
- More difficult — a longer loop outside, with a concrete goal: to fetch the mail, to look at the flowers.
- Sign that it works — the pacing calms down on its own after the walk, the person agrees to sit down.
The sensory refuge corner
- Objective — to offer a low-stimulation retreat space when the environment becomes too overwhelming.
- Materials and duration — a comfortable armchair in a quiet corner, a blanket, soft lighting, possibly familiar music at low volume. As long as necessary.
- Procedure — at the first sign of saturation — hands fidgeting, rising tone, evasive gaze — we suggest going to "take a moment" in this corner, without making it a punishment. We lower the noise, dim the lights, and stay nearby without overwhelming them with words.
- Easier — sitting next to them, hand resting on the forearm if contact is accepted.
- More difficult — teaching the person to go there alone when they feel overwhelmed.
- Sign that it works — the person heads there on their own, or accepts it without resistance when you suggest it.
The emotions thermometer
- Objective — to provide a visual marker of emotional state to anticipate rising tension before a crisis.
- Materials and duration — the DYNSEO emotions thermometer, printed and displayed, 5 minutes several times a day.
- Procedure — during calm moments, we show the thermometer and ask "where are you at, right now?". We mainly use it beforehand: spotting the transition from green to orange allows us to act — suggest a break, go outside, change activities — before reaching red.
- Easier — you point to the area that seems to correspond, the person confirms with a sign.
- More difficult — associating each level with a calming action decided together in advance.
- Sign that it works — the person points to the thermometer spontaneously, or accepts a break when you show it.
Many families notice an increase in agitation in the late afternoon, when the light decreases and fatigue sets in. Anticipate this time slot: turn on the lamps before the room darkens, reduce comings and goings, suggest a calm and familiar activity. Anticipating the wave is more effective than responding once it is there.
Communicate and maintain the connection
When the disease muddles language or understanding, misunderstandings multiply and fuel frustration on both sides. These four tools, free and simple, restore markers to the exchange: express a need, decode an emotion, choose without feeling dispossessed, adjust the tone. They rely on the principle that a visual support relieves memory and language.
Conversation cards
- Objective — restart the exchange without putting the person in difficulty, maintain spontaneous speech and connection.
- Materials and duration — the DYNSEO conversation cards, printed, 10 to 15 minutes.
- Procedure — draw a card, read the question or show the image, and let it flow. No right answer: the goal is to talk together. If a word blocks, we help without insisting and bounce to something else.
- Easier — cards with yes or no answers, or choices between two images.
- Harder — cards that invite to tell a memory or give an opinion.
- Sign that it works — the conversation lengthens, the person takes the initiative to share.
Facial expression decoder
- Objective — relearn to name and recognize emotions, useful when the disease alters the reading of faces.
- Materials and duration — the DYNSEO facial expression decoder, 10 minutes.
- Procedure — we look at faces together, name the emotion, and find a situation where we felt it. It is also an entry point to talk about what the person is experiencing without directly questioning them.
- Easier — associate a face with a word proposed among two.
- Harder — imagine what could have triggered the emotion in the image.
- Sign that it works — the person more easily connects an expression to a feeling and talks more about their emotions.
Choice wheel
- Objective — preserve the feeling of deciding, which defuses many refusals and oppositions.
- Materials and duration — the DYNSEO choice wheel, a few minutes integrated into daily life.
- Procedure — rather than an open question that overwhelms, we offer two or three visual options: “do you prefer the blue sweater or the gray one?”. Offering a limited choice gives back control without creating anxiety.
- Easier — two choices, presented by showing the real objects.
- Harder — three choices, on slightly more abstract decisions (afternoon activity, menu).
- Sign that it works — systematic refusals decrease, the person gets involved in decisions.
Voice scale
- Objective — adjust the volume and tone of the exchange, calm down when the voice rises on either side.
- Materials and duration — the DYNSEO voice scale, displayed in a common room.
- Procedure — the tool serves both the sick person and the caregiver. When the tone rises, we show the scale and lower it together, setting an example. A low and slow voice calms more surely than an instruction.
- Easier — you lower your own voice and observe the effect, without comment.
- Harder — identify together, afterwards, at what level we had risen and what triggered it.
- Sign that it works — tense exchanges resolve more quickly, the volume lowers without being demanded.
- “I see that you are upset. I am here.”
- “Let's take a break together, then we'll continue.”
- “You are right, it's not a big deal. Come, let's see this together.”
- “Do you prefer this one or that one?”
- “But I already told you ten times!”
- “You are wrong, that's not it at all.”
- “Calm down, there is no reason.”
- “Do you really not remember anything?”
Knowing what to say and what to do, situation by situation
The DYNSEO training "Behavioral Changes Related to Illness: Practical Guide for Relatives" includes these tools and details the appropriate reactions to agitation, refusals, and aggression. 10 short lessons, 100% online, unlimited access, at your own pace. Certified Qualiopi organization (No. 11757351875), certificate of completion.
Discover the training — 20 €Reference points, memory, and meaningful occupation
Disorientation fuels anxiety: not knowing what day it is, not recognizing a place, not knowing what to do with one's days. These activities provide anchor points and fill time in a rewarding way. Meaningful occupation — participating in a real task — often has a more calming effect than an abstract exercise because it nurtures the feeling of still being capable.
The Daily Orientation Board
- Objective — reduce anxiety related to temporal disorientation by displaying basic reference points.
- Materials and duration — a large whiteboard or chalkboard: day, date, season, weather, a planned event. 5 minutes in the morning.
- Procedure — we fill in the board together at breakfast, aloud, without turning it into an interrogation. It remains visible throughout the day for the person to refer to on their own.
- Easier — you write, the person reads and checks the weather box.
- More difficult — the person completes it themselves and anticipates what is planned for the day.
- Sign that it works — the questions "What day is it?" become less frequent, the person consults the board on their own.
The Memory Box
- Objective — stimulate old memory, often preserved, and reopen speech through reminiscence.
- Materials and duration — a box with meaningful objects: an old ticket, a work tool, a perfume bottle, a postcard. 15 minutes.
- Procedure — we take out an object, handle it, and let memories come without correcting details. The goal is not accuracy but the emotion and exchange that reopen.
- Easier — a single very familiar, very evocative object.
- More difficult — reconstruct a story from several objects from the same era.
- Sign that it works — the face lights up, speech returns, the person spontaneously tells stories.
The Shared Daily Task
- Objective — engage meaningfully, maintain automatic gestures and the feeling of being useful, which reduces apathy and agitation.
- Materials and duration — real household tasks: folding laundry, setting the table, wiping, sorting utensils, watering plants. 10 to 20 minutes.
- Procedure — we assign a real part of a task, adapted to abilities, while staying nearby. We value participation, not perfection: it doesn't matter if the laundry is perfectly folded.
- Easier — a single simple and repetitive step: stacking towels, wiping the table.
- More difficult — chaining two or three steps of the same task without reminders.
- Sign that it works — the person engages in the task, sometimes asking to "do something."
The Adapted Digital Session
- Objective — stimulate attention, memory, and language at a level that adjusts automatically, in a reassuring environment.
- Materials and duration — a tablet and the application SCARLETT, designed for seniors, 15 minutes at a fixed time.
- Procedure — two or three short games, always in the same order to create a ritual. We stay nearby, encourage, and stop at the end of the time, even if everything is going well.
- Easier — a single game, at the lowest level, guided step by step.
- More difficult — gradually increasing the level, or allowing independent play then reviewing together.
- Sign that it works — the tablet is accepted without reluctance, sometimes requested; attention holds throughout the session.
Pleasure, identity and social connection
These last three activities do not aim for any performance. They nourish mood, preserve identity and connection: what conditions adherence to everything else. A person who feels recognized and experiences pleasure more easily accepts care and difficult moments.
The personal playlist
- Objective — to soothe, awaken memories, reopen emotions. Familiar melodies often remain accessible for a long time.
- Materials and duration — a speaker, a list of significant songs from the person's ages 15-30, 15 minutes.
- Procedure — we listen, we let come what comes — singing, humming, keeping time, telling stories — without questioning. The carefully chosen music is a powerful calming tool in moments of tension.
- Variation — associate a photo from the same time with each piece, or dance gently together.
- Sign that it works — the face relaxes, the person sings lyrics they can no longer always say.
The commented photo album
- Objective — old memory, language, family connection, valuing life history.
- Materials and duration — an album or photos on a tablet, a maximum of ten, 15 minutes.
- Procedure — we look together, we name the people, we locate the places, we tell stories. If a name is missing, we provide it without making anyone wait or correcting the mistake: we seek pleasure, not control.
- Easier — only photos of very familiar close ones.
- Harder — putting a few photos in the order of life, from oldest to most recent.
- Sign that it works — sentences lengthen, the exchange becomes a real shared conversation.
The creative hands workshop
- Objective — to provide sensory pleasure and pride without the stakes of results, to channel agitation into a calming gesture.
- Materials and duration — modeling clay, finger paint, adult coloring, simple baking. 15 to 30 minutes.
- Procedure — we set up the materials, we show the gesture, we let it be done freely. No model to reproduce: the movement of the hands and contact with the material are enough to soothe.
- Easier — a single repeated gesture: kneading the dough, coloring a large area.
- Harder — making a small object or a simple recipe from start to finish.
- Sign that it works — the person concentrates, calms down, shows their work with pride.
An activity is all the more soothing as it relates to life history: a former gardener will find calm in repotting, a seamstress in sorting buttons, a music lover in listening to "their" music. Ask the family about past jobs, hobbies, and habits: it's the best compass for choosing. What speaks to the person calms them; what is foreign agitates them.
A typical day and a typical week
The classic trap: wanting to do everything every day. One or two well-chosen activities per moment of the day are enough, provided they occur at the same times. Regularity matters more than quantity: it establishes security and reduces underlying anxiety. We maintain flexibility, but we protect the major landmarks.
| Moment | What we put in it | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Wake-up and breakfast | Daily orientation board, same reassuring gestures | 15-20 min |
| Mid-morning | Valuable activity — shared task or creative workshop | 15-20 min |
| End of morning | Walk or short outing in the fresh air | 10-20 min |
| Beginning of afternoon | Calm time, low stimulation, refuge corner | 30-60 min |
| Mid-afternoon | Digital session SCARLETT or conversation cards | 15 min |
| End of afternoon (risky time slot) | Known and soothing activity — music, memory box | 15-20 min |
| Evening | Stable bedtime ritual, soft light, calm | as needed |
During the week, it is beneficial to alternate activities to avoid fatigue, while maintaining the same time structure. Here is a possible distribution: it adapts to your reality, not the other way around.
| Day | Dominant theme of the day |
|---|---|
| Monday | Useful occupation — shared tasks at home |
| Tuesday | Communication — conversation cards, emotion decoder |
| Wednesday | Memory and landmarks — memory box, photo album |
| Thursday | Pleasure — creative workshop, music, baking |
| Friday | Digital and attention — slightly longer SCARLETT session |
| Saturday | Social — short and prepared visit, familiar outing |
| Sunday | Nothing imposed. Rest, for the person as well as for the caregiver, is part of the program. |
For days when nothing goes as planned — series of refusals, agitation, crisis — our article dedicated to difficult daily situations details, situation by situation, how to react in the moment.
Arranging the environment, room by room
The environment greatly influences behavior. A home that is too noisy, poorly lit, cluttered with contradictory landmarks creates confusion and agitation. Conversely, a few simple modifications can defuse many crises and facilitate autonomy. Most cost almost nothing; for the others, a home assessment by an occupational therapist is the best investment.
| Room or area | What causes problems | What we change |
|---|---|---|
| Light | Dusk at the end of the day, disturbing shadows, glare | Light early and abundantly, eliminate shadow areas, avoid reflections on windows and mirrors |
| Noise | Television and radio in the background, multiple sound sources | One source at a time, turn off background noise during exchanges and meals |
| Living room | Clutter, too many objects, visual disorder | Simplify, clear pathways, limit unnecessary stimulation |
| Kitchen and bathroom | Slippery floors, dangerous objects within reach, difficult standing | Non-slip mats, store risky products and objects, grab bar, shower seat |
| Visual landmarks | Identical doors, person unable to find the bathroom | Clear pictograms on doors, illuminated path at night, photos on cabinets |
| Mirrors | Unrecognized reflection, source of anxiety or agitation | Cover or remove mirrors that cause concern |
| Safety while walking | Risk of going out, falling, dangerous access | Secure without confining: ground markers, contrast on steps, advice from an occupational therapist |
A person whose illness muddles attention gets lost in a cluttered environment. Store away what is not immediately needed, keep visible what matters: the glass of water, glasses, reassuring photo, the object of the current activity. A clear work surface and a calm room are worth many instructions. Fewer distracting stimuli mean less confusion and less agitation.
The free DYNSEO supports to print
Several DYNSEO tools are freely downloadable and printable from the tool catalog. They structure the routine described here at no cost. Here are which ones to use, and precisely how to use them in this context.
- Emotion thermometer — to display in a common room for activity 4: to identify rising tension and act before the crisis.
- Choice wheel — the support for activity 7: to offer two or three visual options to defuse refusals.
- Facial expression decoder — for activity 6: to name and recognize emotions, open the dialogue about feelings.
- Conversation cards — the heart of activity 5: to restart the exchange without putting the person in difficulty.
- Voice scale — to display for activity 8: to adjust the tone and lower it together when the voice rises.
A usage tip: do not print everything at once. Start with one or two supports that address your most frequent difficulty — often the emotion thermometer and the choice wheel — and add the others when the first ones are well established in daily life. Also keep a simple observation notebook, one line per episode, to communicate to professionals what triggers and what calms. You can complement with the DYNSEO cognitive tests to assess certain abilities, and browse through all the DYNSEO training sessions to go further.
The role of digital technology
A tablet does not replace human support or real activities. It brings two things that paper does not provide: an automatic adjustment of the difficulty level, which prevents failure, and a ritualized framework that reassures. Well-timed, a short daily session becomes a calming and rewarding appointment.
| Application | For whom | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| SCARLETT | Seniors, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease | 15 minutes a day, 2 to 3 games, simplified interface designed for seniors |
| CLINT | Adults, mental health, after a Stroke | Same principle, with an interface and content for adults |
| COCO | Children aged 5 to 10 | Short and playful games, suitable for young age |
| MY DICTIONARY | Autism, aphasia, non-verbal communication | Visual support for daily exchange |
For supporting behavioral changes related to illness in a senior, the SCARLETT application is the most suitable: its clean interface limits confusion and its level adjustment avoids frustration. The right dosage: 15 minutes a day, at a fixed time, rather than a long occasional session. Keep the screen away from the end of the evening, which can disrupt an already fragile sleep, and use it as a positive ritual, never as an additional constraint. If the session turns to annoyance, stop without insisting: the goal is calming, not performance.
The 5 most common mistakes
Some reactions, although natural, worsen the situation. Knowing them avoids many unnecessary tensions. None is a fault: these are reflexes that can be replaced by others, more effective.
- Wanting to reason and correct. Reminding reality, arguing, correcting each mistake fuels frustration and increases tension. Validate the emotion and divert attention rather than convincing.
- Multiplying stimuli. Television on, several people talking, cluttered room: the tired brain saturates and goes into alert mode. Simplifying the environment defuses more crises than one might think.
- Doing instead, systematically. Out of kindness or to save time, one deprives the person of actions they can still accomplish. Forced inactivity fuels apathy and agitation. Better an imperfect task than no task.
- Personalizing aggression. A harsh word or a gesture of rejection comes from the illness, not from an intention to hurt. Taking it personally exhausts the caregiver and hardens the relationship. Taking a step back protects both.
- Wanting to manage everything alone, without noting anything or asking for help. Without a record of episodes or support, exhaustion looms and professionals lack information. Observing, recording, transmitting, and relying on support are part of care.
To go further
Everyday Situations10 difficult everyday situations and how to respond to them, step by step
Support & ContactsWho to contact, what support is available, and how to maintain it over time
The TrainingProgram, content, and who the DYNSEO training is aimed at for relatives
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should these activities be offered?
Every day, but briefly. Two to four short sessions of 10 to 20 minutes spread throughout the day are better than one long session, which can be tiring and may end poorly. What matters is consistency and the same schedule: repetition creates a sense of security that, in itself, reduces underlying anxiety. On bad days, maintain just one easy activity, even for five minutes: it's the routine that we protect, not the quantity. Adjust according to fatigue and mood, without feeling guilty for doing less.
How long should each activity last?
Most often 10 to 20 minutes, and always less than the fatigue threshold. Stop before boredom or irritation sets in, not when they are already present: a session that ends well encourages a repeat, while a session that ends poorly discourages the next one. Some calming activities, like walking or listening to music, can last longer if they are beneficial. Watch for signs of saturation — wandering gaze, fidgeting hands, rising tone — and conclude on a positive note, with a thank you or a warm gesture.
How to motivate a person who refuses everything?
Refusal is common and rarely definitive. Three strategies work better than insistence: lower the difficulty until successes are achieved, start from what the person enjoyed before — a job, a hobby, music — and offer a limited choice with a choice wheel rather than an open question. Negotiate the duration, not the principle: “just five minutes together” often yields more than a lengthy argument. And give up without drama when it's a bad moment: we will try again later, differently. Forcing only worsens the refusal and the relationship.
Is special or expensive equipment needed?
No. Most of the activities described here rely on everyday objects: linen, photos, music, utensils, memory box. The DYNSEO tools mentioned — emotion thermometer, choice wheel, conversation cards — are free, downloadable, and printable from the online catalog. A tablet with an appropriate app like SCARLETT is a plus, not a requirement. The real “equipment” is mainly the environment: light, calm, clear references. Start with what you already have at home and gradually supplement according to emerging needs.
Are these activities suitable for all ages and all diseases?
The principle — to soothe, occupy, secure the environment — is broadly applicable, but each activity adapts to the person, their age, and their illness. For a senior with Alzheimer's or Parkinson's, the SCARLETT app is the most suitable; for a younger adult, CLINT; for a child, COCO. Abilities and aftereffects vary greatly from person to person. The safest approach is to validate your choices with the doctor, speech therapist, psychologist, or occupational therapist who is following your relative: they will tell you which to prioritize and which to avoid based on their situation.
These activities, tools, and arrangements are general daily suggestions. They do not replace a diagnosis, treatment, or the follow-up of professionals. A sudden or unusual change in behavior should always be reported to the doctor: it may hide a treatable cause. In case of emergency, contact the emergency services in your country. Have what is suitable for your loved one validated by the team that follows them.
Supporting behavior changes related to the disease, calmly
You have here the activities, tools, and arrangements to act as soon as tomorrow. To go further — understand the triggers, know what to say and do in each situation, maintain over time — the DYNSEO training "Behavior changes related to the disease: practical guide for relatives" brings everything together in 10 short lessons. 100% online, unlimited access, at your own pace. Certified Qualiopi organization (No. 11757351875), certificate of completion.
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