Managing Feelings of Anxiety for People Living With Dementia

Anxiety is very common in people with dementia, with up to 72% of people experiencing anxiety symptoms. For your loved one, it could display as restlessness, mood changes, or agitation in everyday life.

To help a person with dementia to manage feelings of anxiety, it starts with understanding how it may show up in the individual, and developing a toolkit of tactics to ease symptoms and improve quality of life.

Let’s explore this further.

Why are the causes of anxiety for someone with dementia?

Dementia can make the world feel confusing and unpredictable. Everyday things that once felt automatic, like conversations, routines, recognising people or places, may suddenly require effort or feel uncertain.

Common triggers that might cause feelings of anxiety include:

• Difficulty understanding what’s happening or what’s expected
• Changes to routine or unfamiliar environments
• Sensory overload (noise, crowds, bright lights)
• Feeling rushed or pressured
• Awareness of memory loss or communication difficulties.

Anxiety is often a response to feeling unsafe and unsure, even if the person going through it struggles to recognise and explain it themselves. 

Gentle ways to reduce feelings of anxiety for people living with dementia 

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for feelings of anxiety in anyone, but little adjustments can make a big difference in creating a sense of calm and reassurance for your loved one. 

1. Keep things predictable where possible

Familiar routines help reduce uncertainty and therefore limit moments where anxious feelings may start to occur.

Regular, set times for meals, activities, and rest can offer comfort and a sense of control over daily life and routines. 

2. Use calm, reassuring communication

Speak slowly, use simple language, and offer reassurance through your tone as much as words. Even when details are forgotten, feelings are often remembered.

3. Create a soothing environment

Soft lighting, reduced background noise, and familiar objects can all help lower anxiety levels. A calm space supports a calm mind.

4. Acknowledge feelings, even if the cause isn’t clear

If someone seems anxious, responding with empathy can be far more helpful than correcting facts or trying to reason things away.

For example: – “It looks like you’re feeling unsettled, I’m here with you.”

The power of connection and gentle stimulation

One of the most effective ways to ease feelings of anxiety is through human connection.

Meaningful interaction helps people feel seen and less alone. Gentle stimulation can also redirect anxious energy in a way that feels safe and enjoyable rather than overwhelming.

Conversation without pressure

Gentle conversation can help to ground someone experiencing anxious thoughts, especially when you remove any pressure to answer in the “right” way. 

Matching Memories, our dementia-friendly conversation game, is designed exactly for this. The prompts encourage storytelling, reminiscence, connection, and laughter, helping people connect with others at their own pace, without any fear of making mistakes.

For many people, this kind of gentle social interaction can reduce feelings of isolation and boost their confidence, injecting moments of joy and familiarity in their day.

Calming focus through hands-on activities

Some people find reassurance in having something tangible to focus on. Quiet, absorbing activities can help settle restlessness and bring a sense of achievement.

A Good Day’s Seasonal Jigsaw Collection offers gentle cognitive stimulation without pressure. The familiar themes, manageable piece counts, and beautiful illustrations provide a calming focus, while still encouraging engagement and concentration.

Jigsaws can be especially helpful when feelings of anxiety shows up as pacing, fidgeting, or agitation, as they offer you a peaceful way to keep your fingers busy while calming the mind. 

Sensory check-ins

When anxiety rises, the brain can feel overloaded – one way to reduce this pressure is by coming out of the mind and into the body through sensory check-ins.

This might look like:

• Touching something familiar – a cosy blanket, a smooth stone, a favourite mug
• Noticing a smell – fresh coffee, lavender, citrus
• Listening to a sound – birdsong, gentle nostalgic music, a familiar voice
• Looking at something comforting – family photos, changes in nature.

These mindful moments can help ground the person in what’s happening right now, rather than what feels confusing or distressing in their mind.

Supporting wellbeing in people with dementia by managing symptoms of anxiety and agitation  

Of course, we’re not medical experts, so we always encourage you to seek professional advice to support you with the symptoms of dementia and any associated conditions and behaviours you’re noticing as a caregiver or family member.

However, we know from experience that having a set of coping strategies can help to introduce more moments of calm into everyday life. Over time, this can create a real sense of emotional security that supports wellbeing for people with dementia. 

Explore our range of dementia-friendly games and activities or learn more about our personal experiences with dementia.