Tips for Anger Management in Dementia

 

One of the biggest challenges for family members caring for a spouse or elder with any form of dementia is dealing with sudden outbursts of agitation and aggression. Most people with dementia experience behavioral changes during the course of the disease. Depending on their personalities and experiences, they may become anxious or repeat the same question or activity many times.

These changes can be stressful for caregivers and are highly unpredictable. As the disease progresses, your loved one's behavior may seem inappropriate, childish, or impulsive. Aggression is a common behavior among dementia patients. Insulting, hitting, grabbing, kicking, pushing, throwing things, scratching, yelling, biting, and making strange noises are some of the ways they express their negative emotions.

"People think of Alzheimer's as a memory disease," says Ephraim Zagelbaum, Founder and CEO of Personal Healthcare. “But, in fact, there are many neuropsychiatric symptoms. Alzheimer's patients often develop delusions. For example, they think their family is stealing things from them. Moreover, they get very aggressive and irritable towards their spouse. He adds that the family needs to remember that it is the illness that is causing the behavior. "Kids always end up taking it personally, which causes unnecessary anxiety," says Zagelbaum.

The behavior of a person with dementia can be unpredictable and it can be difficult to understand why they act the way they do. We must understand that it is due to the disease and the changes it causes in the brain.

Understanding Aggression

It is important to understand the causes of aggression to anticipate changes in behavior. Understanding the causes can help you deal with them more effectively, explains Ephraim Zagelbaum. Most of the time there are certain events that we can say are the "triggers" that result in aggressive behavior in the dementia patient. Understanding and finding out what triggers trigger these types of behaviors in your loved one will help reduce the frequency of occurrence and better understand their behavior.

Below, healthcare executive Ephraim Zagelbaum lists some of the common triggers:

Environmental triggers

Unknown places, noisy areas, dark rooms, temperature that is too cold or too hot, etc. they can be an unpleasant environment, being able to highlight the aggressive nature of their illness when they cannot express themselves. Agitation is often related to a particular time of day, especially nights ("Sun Down" syndrome).

Physiological triggers

The changes that occur in the brain due to the disease also trigger anger in the elderly with dementia. 

Confusion: Due to changes in their brain and memory loss, people with dementia are often confused by the simplest things causing them to become enraged sometimes as a defense mechanism and sometimes due to the inability to perform tasks .

Helplessness: Anger or frustration is often seen to also occur when older people with dementia are unable to express themselves. The feeling of helplessness they feel when they cannot communicate their needs with others agitates them, provoking anger towards the caregivers.

Medication - A change in medication or the side effects of a medication can cause aggression.

Emotional triggers: Any trauma or any unpleasant situation can cause anger in the elderly.