Coping With Dementia: Violence and Aggression
Tips from the Alzheimer’s Disease International website:
Violence and aggression
“Violence and aggression are caused by the illness.”
From time to time, the person may become angry, aggressive or violent. It is not a personal attack on you, but a part of their illness. There are many reasons why a person with dementia may feel angry. They may not like being helped with things they used to do on their own, or may simply be frustrated due to an inability to do things.
These short-term changes happen for a variety of reasons such as the person’s sense of loss of social control and judgment, loss of the ability to express negative feelings safely, and loss of the ability to understand the actions and abilities of others. It is therefore worth finding and avoiding the causes of unwanted certain reactions.
If the person feels angry, aggressive or violent, keep calm and try not to show fear or alarm. Give them more space and try to draw their attention to a calming activity.
This is one of the most difficult things to cope with for a caregiver, and if violence occurs often, you will need to seek help. Talk to someone for support, and speak with your doctor about help with managing the person.
