Why do dementia patients get aggressive
Why do dementia patients get violent?Causes of aggressive behavior may be biological, social, or psychological.Some dementia patients have trouble revealing or understanding their needs or wants, so in order to express themselves, they may exhibit aggressive behavior.They will likely let home repairs and chores go by the wayside, and they may neglect to pay their bills.Aggression may be a symptom of alzheimer's disease itself.Physical needs are some tangible issue in the room, while emotional needs are going on in your loved one's head.
As caregivers start to feel burnt out, they may also lose empathy for the patient.Dementia is characterized as a progressive and chronic decline in cognitive function, not limited to memory impairment, which significantly interferes with baseline daily functioning and frequently involves behavioral disturbances.Aggression occurs in half of persons diagnosed with dementia and is associated with more rapid cognitive decline, increased risk of abuse, and caregiver burden 4, 7, 8.When we are experiencing dementia, we don't suddenly arrive in a 'dementia anger stage.' we simply get hurt and angry often because we can't use memory or reasoning to consider the reasons for why someone might do something or say something to us.The inability for a patient to recognize something or someone can be a major trigger for a change in behavior.If your loved one becomes aggressive, it's important to remember.
The person might be feeling threatened or frightened.Losing trained thought trains or faulty memories, or an unsettling change in caregivers environment, such as a new role for them, may result in confusion.Ensure the person is comfortable.It's never helpful to argue with someone who has alzheimer's or another dementia.Try not to take the behavior personally.
