Violent Dementia Patients

I have often written about dealing with dementia patients. They do not react like people whose brains are functioning normally. About 5-10% of dimentia patients exhibit violent behavior. The cause of the violent behavior may not be known and it can come from any number of triggers (or nothing). Dealing with a violent family member can be difficult. Here are some tips:

1.Back down. If your loved-one gets angry because he doesn’t want to take a shower, drop it and try again later when his mood has improved.

2.Apologize, even if it’s not your fault. This will buy you time and good will.

3.Change the topic. Stay calm and change the subject to something your loved-one usually enjoys.

4.Remember the world is distorted for those with Dementia. They are sensitive to noise and become fatigued easily. What is going on around them may not make sense as their brain cannot comprehend or remember context.

5.Call for help. For emergencies, call 911. For non-emergencies, call the Alzheimer’s Association’s 24-hour hotline: 1-800-272-3900.

[Derived from other on-line resources.]

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