How to Deal with Aggression in Alzheimer's Patients

The treatment of violent behavior in Alzheimer’s depends on the cause of the aggression. If the behavior is because of the disease, a doctor might be able to resolve the behavior by either changing up the medications or adding a new one. Sometimes, the behavior can even be managed with simple changes in routine. For example, if you discover that your loved one’s aggression happens in between lunch and dinnertime, providing a small snack or meal in between these mealtimes might be just the trick to help calm them down. On the other hand, maybe he or she is feeling fatigued and frustrated more often than before, and in this case, a scheduled nap in the afternoon might be enough to keep them from getting violent again.

Physical restraints may or may not be a good idea when trying to control your aggressive loved one. Because they have Alzheimer’s, their judgment is and the restraint might make them more confused and frustrated. There is a danger in frightening them even more and worsening the situation. In that case, you might end up hurting both of you by trying to control his or her violent behavior.