Baycrest Volunteer Handbook
21
• Pacing, wandering or trying to get to a different place
• Verbal: repetitive sentences or questions, cursing, yelling,
screaming
• Sexual: Disinhibition, grabbing onto people
• Hoarding
• Destroying property
• Negativism
• Eating or drinking inappropriate substances
• Performing repetitious mannerisms
Factors that may trigger responsive behaviour:
• Sensory deficits such as decreased v
ision, hearing, taste
•
Boredom and lack of meaningful activities and engagement
• Untreated pain and physical discomfort
• Unmet needs such as hunger, lack of sleep, toileting
• Delirium
• Environmental triggers: too hot, too cold, too bright, too dark,
too loud, too quiet, too crowded, overstimulating,
understimulating, unfamiliar
• Cognitive changes: decrease in language comprehension and
expression, dif
ficulties in understanding what objects are used
for,
decreased insight, altered perception, difficulty sustaining
attention
• An image or memory triggered by the person's past including
their unique experiences (e.g. occupations, traumas)
How can I best help someone who is experiencing a responsive
behaviour?
• Learn about important characteristics, preferences and the
background of each client you wor
k with in order to offer them
a
meaningful experience
• Don't label a client who demonstrates a responsive behaviour
as challenging, difficult, intentional, sick or negative
