Practical Solutions for Challenging Behaviors: Aggression For a person with Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia, the irritation, discomfort and frustration they experience don't always have a clear avenue for expression. In fact, this very lack of emotional expression is often a cause for frustration itself. While a healthy person can express their negative emotions and think of simple ways to find relief, a person whose mind is plagued by dementia is often trapped within themselves. As a result, the person may lash out with aggression far more intense than the situation seems to warrant."Aggressive behaviors in people with dementia is fairly common," says Susie Sarkisian, Director of Family Services at The Kensington in White Plains, NY. "Yet, that doesn't mean each aggressive outburst isn't a challenging, possibly dangerous experience for the person and their caregiver."As with many symptoms of dementia, it's usually best to try and treat them without medication, and aggression is no different. A caregiver who is dealing with an aggressive loved one can learn how to respond to their behaviors and adapt their care style and environment in order to lessen the intensity of their loved one's aggression and reduce the number the aggressive episodes." Common Causes of AggressionThere is almost always an underlying cause for aggressive behaviors, as mentioned above. Unfortunately, a person with dementia can't often explain what's bothering them, and it's up to their caregiver to figure out what's wrong. According to the Alzheimer's Association®, there are number of physical, environmental and emotional causes of aggressive behavior, including:● Physical Pain or Discomfort - Does the person have a headache? Are they too hot or too cold? Could they be sick or in need of medical attention? Due to cognitive decline and poor self-care habits, urinary tract infections are common among those with dementia. It's wise to take your loved one to their doctor if you're unsure about the cause of their behavior.● Tiredness - How well did the person sleep the night before? Many people with dementia have difficulty sleeping or suffer from sundowning, an array of symptoms that get worse late in the day and evening.● Hunger or Thirst - Could the person simply be hungry? Are they dehydrated?● Emotional struggles - People who suffer from dementia may also suffer from depression or anxiety. Be aware of the mental and emotional symptoms of their disease.● Medication Side Effects - If they're on any medications, check to see if aggression or mood swings are common side effects. Adverse side effects are more likely to appear if the person is taking multiple medications for several conditions.● Overstimulation - Are their surroundings noisy, bright or active? Since dementia affects a person's sensory abilities, an environment with too much stimulation can overwhelm the person. Large crowds, loud music and even unfamiliar settings can be upsetting.● Confusion - Do they feel lost? Are they struggling with confusion? Aggression could be a reaction to the confusing mental scape the person has to live with.● Caregivers - It is possible that you are unintentionally causing the person's aggression. Check to make sure you're communicating in a way that's easy for them to understand. Also check your own mood. They may be picking up on your own frustration and reflecting it. Effective Responses to Aggressive Behavior Once you know what's causing a person's aggression, it's easier to know how to respond. If the cause of their behavior is something that can be fixed, such as the temperature of the room or an uncomfortable shirt, the solution should ease their aggression. However, it's not always easy to know the cause right away, so knowing how to respond to an outburst is necessary in any situation.● Stay Calm - Reacting with anger or raising your voice may only further upset the person. When they become aggressive, stay calm. Take a minute to compose yourself if you must before you respond.● Rule Out Pain - You should first make sure the person isn't in any pain and that there is no dangerous cause for distress.● Focus on Their Feelings - Trying to rationalize with a person with dementia will not be successful. Instead, recognize that their discomfort is real, even if the reason for it seems irrational.● Calm Down Their Surroundings - Try to limit distractions. Turn off the TV. Look around to see if something in their environment could be causing their behavior and adjust it.● Shift Their Attention - If their environment isn't the cause, try to take their attention away from the irritation by starting a different activity. Ask them if they would help you make the bed or if they'd like to go for a walk.● Take a Break - If you can't lessen their aggression, and they are safe in their environment, walk out of the room. Take a short break to gather yourself and let them try to do the same.● Ensure Your Safety - If you feel that the person is in danger of harming him or herself or you, call for help. Let first responders know that the person has dementia.While these responses may help ease a singular aggressive episode, you should seek medical advice if this behavior occurs frequently or gets worse. As a last resort, antipsychotic medications can help to keep the person safe from harming themselves or others. Knowing When the Time Is Right for Care "Through proper education and best-practice caregiver techniques, it is possible to help your loved one and manage their aggressive behaviors," says Sarkisian. "However, when these issues become severe, it may be time to consider professional, around-the-clock memory care at a specialized community. Aggression and the concern that a loved one may be dangerous to himself or others is one of the main reasons families seek memory care."The Kensington delivers compassionate memory care to residents with dementia in secure, specially designed neighborhoods that help to enhance their quality of life. Our caregivers understand the unique and challenging behaviors that dementia can cause, and they are specially trained to support each resident with kindness, respect and attention to their personal preferences and needs. If you would like to learn more about memory care at The Kensington, click to contact us today! We Promise to Love and Care for Your Family as We Do Our Own Susie Sarkisian is just one of the many special people within The Kensington family - people who make life at The Kensington an enriching, fulfilling and enjoyable experience for all residents.The Kensington is an enhanced Assisted Living and Memory Care residence located in the heart of White Plains, NY Here, residents are regarded as members of our own family, so hugs, laughs, companionship and patient support are routine parts of every day. We help our residents feel loved and secure by delivering heartfelt excellence in Assisted Living and Memory Care services in a warm, beautiful environment that offers comfortable elegance and is staffed by loving professionals.We believe the comfort of familiarity is precious, so our enhanced program enables us to offer care beyond what the traditional assisted living community can deliver. We offer a full spectrum of clinical support, rehabilitation, wellness and social engagement activities as well as end-of-life care. No resident needs to move out if their healthcare needs ever change.For those with memory loss, The Kensington offers levels of care in specially designed neighborhoods. Connections is for residents in the early-to-middle stages of memory loss. Haven is for residents in the mid-to-late stages. We understand that memory loss is a family affair, so our multifaceted program is geared to support not only our residents but also those who love them.Click to contact us for further information or call us directly at 914-390-0080.
