Aging Gracefully and with Great Health

3 Tips For Dealing With Violent Outbursts From A Loved One With Dementia

21 April 2015 by For Content

It is no secret that people with dementia can have violent outbursts. Sadly, many individuals who are afflicted with dementia have been kind, in control, and stable their entire lives. Then when the dementia hits they become irrational, paranoid and violent. If this is the case for your loved one, you might be wondering what you can do when the outbursts happen. First and foremost, you need to protect yourself and your family. Here are some ways to keep your loved ones and the individual with dementia safe.

1. Don't Try To Reason With Them

If the individual with dementia starts to have a paranoid delusion where they are panicked and start to become aggressive, you shouldn't fight them or try to reason with them. Simply telling them that what they are feeling is false or that there is nothing to worry about will only infuriate them more.

For this reason, you should try to reassure them with statements like "I understand, I will take care of it." "Why don't you go and rest while I take care of the problem?" You should avoid statements such as "That is not true, you are having a delusion," or "You need to stop it now!" These sorts of statements might make them become more defensive and dangerous.

2. Learn Their Triggers

If your loved one with dementia is living with you, you might be experiencing their aggression often. In order to maintain the peace, try to learn what things trigger them. You might notice that going certain places make them nervous, that reading certain books or watching certain shows make them anxious, and much more. If you can detect what things put them on edge, you can avoid those things. You might not be able to avoid all the outbursts, but hopefully you can significantly lower their frequency.

3. Consider An Assisted Living Program

If the outbursts become frequent and violent enough, you might need to put your loved one in an assisted living center. This is for their safety as well as your own. These facilities have the proper staff, medication, and security to ensure that nothing dangerous happens. You shouldn't be housing someone who is violent or dangerous to your family in your home. You are not betraying your loved one by ensuring their safety.

By understand the things that you can do to help a loved one with violent outbursts from dementia, you can do what is best for them and protect yourself. Visit the local assisted living community Alta Ridge Communities for more information, as they specialize in dealing with dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

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