How to Prevent Aggression in Seniors with Dementia

If you have a senior loved one who’s living with dementia, there are a variety of triggers that can lead to him or her becoming aggressive. Knowing these triggers can help you prevent them from occurring and alleviate this behavior. Here are a few tips to help your loved one remain happy and comfortable while managing dementia.

Relieve Physical Discomfort

For seniors with dementia, aggression is often caused by lack of sleep or physical pain. When your loved one becomes ill, he or she may have a difficult time articulating the cause of discomfort. Pain makes the discomfort worse, which leads to aggression.  To alleviate your loved one’s pain or discomfort, make sure he or she gets adequate sleep and is comfortable at all times. Make sure to check your loved one’s temperature and schedule regular doctor visits to see what other steps can be taken to relieve his or her discomfort.  The cognitive challenges that accompany dementia often leave aging adults unable to manage everyday tasks, which puts their safety and health at risk. If your senior loved one has been diagnosed with a serious condition and needs help with tasks like meal prep, transportation, bathing, and grooming, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of senior care families can trust. We also offer comprehensive care for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.

Control Environmental Factors

Being in a noisy and rowdy environment can also cause aggression. Remind family members and friends not to make a lot of noise when they’re around your loved one. Having too many people, especially unfamiliar individuals, inside your loved one’s home can lead to overstimulation, which often results in anger and violent behavior. Whenever possible, keep guests and noise to a minimum.  Symptoms such as agitation, confusion, anger, and frustration are common in elderly people with dementia. Dementia can be challenging for seniors to manage, but they can maintain a higher quality of life with the help of professional dementia care. Irving seniors can benefit greatly from the Cognitive Therapeutics Method (CTM), an activities-based program designed to promote cognitive health and delay the onset of dementia. CTM is included at no additional charge with any of the in-home care plans provided by Home Care Assistance.

Reduce Side Effects of Medication

The medication your loved one takes can also trigger aggression. Some medications have hallucinogenic side effects, which can trigger violent behavior and anger. This risk grows if your loved one takes more than one type of medication. Ask the doctor if your loved one can be placed on a medication with fewer side effects or if the medication can be eliminated altogether. 

Keep Communication Simple

Asking your loved one too many questions could cause him or her to become agitated. Limit the number of questions you ask your loved one in any given situation so he or she can remain calm. Make sure you give simple instructions when you ask your loved one to complete a task. Complex instructions can confuse seniors with dementia, which often leads to stress and aggression.  Caring for a loved one with dementia is a challenging task for anyone. The responsibilities can sometimes feel overwhelming, but help is available. Seniors can face a variety of age-related challenges. Though some families choose to take on the caregiving duties, there may come a time when they need a trusted Irving home care service provider. Families sometimes need respite from their duties so they can focus on their other responsibilities, and some seniors need around-the-clock assistance that their families are not able to provide. Home Care Assistance is here to help. Whether your parent needs minor help with daily tasks or extensive 24-hour care, give us a call at (817) 591-1580 today.