Aggressive Behaviour in Dementia: 9 Tips To Tackle it in Loved One?

Aggressive behaviour in dementia is common. These patients show signs like scratching, hair-pulling, hitting, pinching, biting, shouting, threatening, and swearing. Have you encountered these symptoms or are your elderly loved ones displaying these signals?

If yes, just avoid correcting them because it often results in sadness and frustration in them. So, check out some strategies that will help you to prevent dementia behavior issues.

Reasons for Aggressive Behaviour in Dementia

1. Just remember that people who have dementia feel trapped or cornered when you approach them. They feel threatened or violated when being handled by the other people.

2. They might be suddenly aggressive due to pain, illness, or infection.

3. Something or someone around them is creating distress in them, and they are not in a position to identify or express what they need.

4. They cannot control their aggressive impulses.

What To Do in Case of Aggressive Behaviour in Dementia?

1. Look for the early signs of discomfort or distress before the individual acts aggressively.

2. Mainly, be careful about the approach of the dementia patient from the front side. Make eye contact as well as ask permission to touch or greet, etc.

3. Create a physical space between the individual and other people around them.

4. Maintain, get back, or speak in a calm voice.

5. Look out for the unaccomplished requirements or discomforts and address them.

6. Engage your loved one in activities that make them feel happy.

7. Take help from a doctor to assess pain, fractures, infections, or other health issues.

8. Just avoid overpowering or cornering the patient as these behaviors are beyond the control of the dementia patients. Don’t even try to shout at them.

9. If this happens continuously, take medications and ask your loved one to consume them.

Home Health Care or Hospice: What To Pick for Your Loved One?

There are many differences between home health firms and in-home hospice care. But both render the same facilities like as 24*7, and long-term care by expert professionals. But deciding on which one is best for your loved one dealing with aggressive behaviour in dementia is a little bit tricky.

Home Health vs. Hospice Care

1. In hospice care, nursing visits are much more common (usually unlimited visits for six months or for a long time) while people in the home health firms have nearly one visit per week from a professional nurse. Also, in the in-home hospice, the nurse spends more time with the patients every week.

2. The interdisciplinary team provides hospice care (physician, nurse, social worker, chaplain, hospice aide, volunteer, and bereavement specialist who come to the home of the patient. 

Home health agencies provide care to the private homes of the patient, but they are not limited to registered nurses, speech/language pathologists, physical therapists, certified nursing assistants, and occupational therapists.

3. The hospice patients need not be homebound. They can leave home, take a trip, or do errands if they feel they are well enough. However, the patients living in home health care must need certification from a doctor that they are homebound except for a short duration.

If your loved one is facing aggressive behaviour in dementia where they can no longer be dependent on their own, a nursing home, home health agency, or assisted living facility is the best option. For those patients who can get care at home, then in-home care may be the viable option for them.

How to Choose What is Right?

Picking a choice to care for your loved one is a hard and emotional decision for the family. Thereby, whether you pick the in-home hospice care, nursing home, home health, or assisted living, they will get similar care and attention from the expert professionals. It is best to speak with an experienced professional if you are hunting for the right fit.