Agitation
Short definition
Agitation is a state of excessive motor or verbal activity, associated with emotional tension, which may include restlessness, wandering, repeated shouting or aggression.
In plain language
It is common in people with dementia and in patients with delirium. It often has an underlying cause: pain, discomfort, hunger, noise, an unfamiliar environment or a need the person cannot express. For this reason, the first approach is to look for and address that cause and to adjust the environment.