As a primary caregiver for an older adult with dementia, it is normal to feel surprised, anxious, worried, or hurt when they hurl vulgarities or hurtful words at you for no reason. According to some studies, this tends to occur in those with Alzheimer’s Disease, where 27.8% of them would exhibit aggressive behavior or action in their lifespan.
While the root cause for these behaviors scientifically isn’t clear, aggression in loved ones with dementia tends to signify that there might be an internal or external (environmental) trigger causing them to display combative actions like kicking, punching, pushing, throwing, or bitting. The patterns of these actions are similar to a domestic abuse situation. Fortunately, this can be intervened with the right medication and by identifying the trigger for the aggression.
Common Reasons for Aggression in Older Adults With Dementia
Many factors could cause aggression and violence in older adults, but some of the most common triggers stem from a recognition loss caused by dementia. This could ultimately lead to other issues such as delusions and hallucinations, lack of nutrition from poor food consumption, progressive brain damage, and communicative misunderstandings. In most cases, an amalgamation of these factors could be sufficient to trigger an outburst.
While it’s challenging to predict when and how your loved one will display their aggression or violence, there are ways you can react to these outbursts without exacerbating the situation.
Investigate The Cause of The Trigger
Many older adults with dementia could exhibit an aggressive response if they feel intense emotions of pain, frustration, anger, or pain. Therefore, the first step you should take is to identify and find out if there are any environmental stimulants or lack thereof causing them to react this way. For instance, some dementia patients are sensitive to shadows, which would trigger their paranoia. Therefore, if you find them shouting or scowling at an empty corner with shadows, it might be time to switch on the light in the room to illuminate the darker corners and help them calm down.
Provide A Distraction
Sometimes, music can truly be a type of medicine as it is proven as an effective therapeutic outlet for managing emotions. For example, playing their favorite song could be a way to distract from feelings of distress and frustration. If they are a fan of classical music, playing it at a low volume could relax and calm the mood. Additionally, you could also hum or sing along to the song to encourage them to join in as well.
Give Them Time And Space
Sometimes, the best way to defuse a heated situation is by removing yourself from the equation, especially if you have tried your best to calm them down. As a caregiver yourself, you might be exhibiting non-verbal cues that could imply that you’re feeling frustrated and angry with them. While you may not know it, this could also intrinsically affect their mood. Leaving the heated situation provides both you and your loved ones the time to calm down and process your feelings.
Consider Sending Them to Memory Care
Many caregivers might feel like they are not equipped with the right skills, knowledge, and emotional capability to care for their loved ones, especially when it’s someone they have known their whole life. If you feel like you do not have the capacity to care for your loved one with dementia, it might be the right time for you to transition them to memory care. The memory care community will be more well-equipped with a professional healthcare team ready and available to care for them appropriately.
Choose Lakeside At Mallard Landing
Lakeside At Mallard Landing is located in Salisbury, MD, where our memory care team is well-trained and highly qualified to care for your loved ones. Our SHINE® Memory Care program is ideal for older adults struggling with memory-related conditions like Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia. The activities in the programs have been curated and developed to help promote engagement and comprehension to increase your loved one’s quality of life.
To learn more about the living options and programs we have available at the Lakeside At Mallard Landing, please feel free to contact us and arrange a tour with us!
