According to the Alzheimer's Association, there are some ways you can modify the living environment to help reduce agitation. Each individual will respond differently, so it is important that you watch and learn what items seem to upset your father.

Keeping the areas where you father spends his time free of overstimulating factors may help. You can modify the environment and decrease stimulation by decreasing your father's exposure to noise and other distractions. Noise reduction can be achieved by adding carpet, window treatments, and other materials that will help absorb sound.

Think about noise from the outside (traffic, neighborhood activities) and the inside (people, appliances, etc.) and what can be done to eliminate or reduce their noise. For example, lowering the sound of the television or removing it from the environment may help.

Because some individuals respond negatively to environments that lack sensory stimulation, it is important to find appropriate balance in the environment. Sterile, uninteresting environments can have a negative effect on behavior as well.

There are a number of things that can be done in the home environment to help a person living with Alzheimer's disease remain at home. Some sites you may want to visit include:
• www.alzinfo.org/alzheimers-treatment-modifying.asp
• www.nia.nih.gov/Alzheimers/Caregiving/HomeAndFamily