At some point, patients with cognitive disease might manifest dementia aggression. Though such behavior is caused by damage which occurs in their brain, it can be unsettling to caretakers who may not know how to respond. Below are some recommendations which will help.
Determine whether They’re in Pain
Dementia patients who are experiencing physical discomfort or pain, and who are not capable of communicating such might respond with aggression instead. The first thing you’ll want to do is find out if they require medication for conditions like gout or arthritis. If not, their seating or bed might be uncomfortable or perhaps they have to use the bathroom.
Get Rid of Excessive Noise
If the dementia patient is in an environment which is noisy or chaotic, this can irritate them and trigger aggressive behavior. Simple things you can do to calm them down include turning down music, deactivating the television set, removing playful children from the room and changing mobile phones so they vibrate rather than ring. Aging people in general are more sensitive to noise, but dementia sufferers have an even greater sensitivity to it.
Do Not Respond with Aggression
Before caring for someone that has dementia, you must always keep in mind that they can become aggressive at times. If you respond to this behavior with aggression of your own you’ll make the situation worse, so you must remember never to be shocked by anything they do and not take such behavior personally.
Identify the Trigger
Think carefully about the events that transpired just before the outburst occurred. It was most likely caused by something which triggered pain, fear or frustration. For instance, when caring for a dementia patient, they might suddenly yell at an empty space, telling non-existent people to leave. If the room is becoming dark because of dusk, its dim light creates shadows within the room’s corners which make it appear to the patient that someone is there.
To remove such a trigger you’ll want to turn on the lights before dusk, or set them to come on automatically. Another common trigger among dementia patients is when someone approaches from the rear which startles them. The sudden surprise could create feelings of being attacked which then cause them to lash out in self-defense. To avoid this dementia patients should always be approached from the front and you’ll want to avoid standing behind them unless absolutely necessary.
Reinforce Their Feelings
There are times when a dementia patient will become aggressive without a clear cause. This is often because they have unpleasant feelings about something but don’t have a way of properly expressing it. You’ll have to search for clues while speaking in a manner which is calm and reassuring. Reinforce their feelings, letting them know that it’s okay to have the feelings they have, and you want to help them.
Give Them Their Medication on Schedule
Most dementia patients are taking various types of medication. Some of them are dementia specific, while others are designed to treat other conditions. If you miss their medication schedule, this can cause them to become frustrated.
