Top 10 Strategies to Calm Agitation and Aggression in Seniors with Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease changes the brain chemistry of your senior loved one. Through no fault of their own, you may experience anger and aggression from the person you loved. Usually, aggression will appear in the later stages of dementia. The first time your aging loved one is aggressive may frighten you. Your aging loved one may become angry and irritable without warning and yell at you, scream and curse, or even throw something at you.

Thus caring for an aging parent with Alzheimer's can feel like an everyday battle. You are dealing with the loss of the loved one you once knew, yet you still love them unconditionally despite the change. You may be witnessing new episodes of agitation and aggression and find it challenging to predict when these alarming behaviors will arise.

Solving these problems is rarely done by a medical specialist where there is no effective treatment for this type of disease. Therefore, family caregivers can do little but try their best to slow down or reduce its progression. Accordingly, this article will go through the top 10 strategies that will help you solve some common problems to improve their quality of life and reduce your stress levels at the same time.

But before moving on, it is ideal for you to learn the common causes of aggression and agitation from your loved one. As a result, you'll better understand the strategies that can help reduce their symptoms.

Common Causes of Agitation and Aggression

There are many causes of aggression in seniors with Alzheimer's, but the following are the most common ones.

1. Frustrations and Sadness

Frustrations are the most common cause that leads to agitation in seniors. For instance, if your loved one is trying to accomplish simple tasks but cannot do them, he would feel frustrated. Soon, his frustration will turn into aggression because they cannot communicate their needs to you or anyone else in the room. 

2. Medication Side Effects

Individuals with Alzheimer’s disease who take different medications are at a higher risk of drug interactions. These medications have strong side effects such as restlessness and irritability, including dysphoria or depression. These side effects can worsen with time and become a major cause of aggression.

3. Sudden Change and Overstimulation

Your loved one may feel overwhelmed because of sudden changes in their daily routines. For instance, if you try to take them out for a walk around the neighborhood for the first time after years, there would be an increased chance that they will feel overstimulated. As a result, they might start cursing or become agitated.

4. Physical Pain

Pain is another reason why seniors with Alzheimer’s can become aggressive. Physical pain is caused by non-verbal symptoms such as restlessness, pain, or even sleepiness. If you see that your loved one becomes upset when you try to bring them back to bed, it’s a sign that they feel tired and might be in pain or feel discomfort.

5. Fear of Death

Hallucinations are common for older adults with Alzheimer's. These hallucinations are usually negative and come with the theme of missing someone they still think about or need, even if they are old enough to give up. It can be a major cause of aggression because they perceive all people around them as threatening.

6. Stress

People with Alzheimer's disease are extremely sensitive to stress. As a result, they become frustrated because of everyday issues that can affect your relationship with them for the worse.

These are some common causes of agitation and aggression in older adults which you need to know about. 

Now that you've learned more about the possible causes of aggression and agitation, you can find out how to manage your senior loved ones with dementia.

Top 10 Strategies to Calm Agitation and Aggression in Seniors with Alzheimer's

1. Stay Calm

If you want to calm your aging loved one down, you'll need to remain calm as well. It will not be easy because there might be an increase in aggression and agitation during certain times of the day or night. You should therefore try to avoid these times where you are not able to control your screaming anger. 

2. Find a Diversion

To help your senior loved one calm down, try finding something that they can do that will take their mind off of their illness for some time. Distract your loved one by finding a new activity or hobby to do, like art or music, or by making snacks for the elderly. Introduce anything to your loved one that might shift his attention away from the source of the frustration.

3. Get Them Moving

If your senior loved one is too anxious and restless, try moving them around a little. It will increase your loved one's level of physical activity, which will then help him relax. You can take your loved one out for a walk or ask them to complete a task that requires both the use of their hands and feet, such as folding clothes, vacuuming, or laundry. If your loved one is depressed, you should encourage him to move around since sitting still might make him feel worse.

4. Don’t Argue With Them

People with Alzheimer's sometimes hallucinate, which can be either distressing or harmless. Don't try to convince your loved ones what they see is not real. Instead, try to distract your loved one by having a conversation with him on a different topic unrelated to his illness. If the hallucination is alarming, try talking to your loved one in a soothing voice and patting him gently. It may distract your loved one from the hallucination and turn the focus on you.

5. Keep Safety Items Nearby

Items like photographs and other personal items can have a soothing effect on individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, helping your loved one to feel secure. Ensure to have these items on hand to help remind your loved one of his happy memories.

6. Maintain Routines

One of the most effective methods to manage aggression and agitation in older adults is to continue their daily routines before the disease. It will give your loved one a sense of normalcy and comfort. When your loved one sticks to a routine, he feels comfortable and gains independence because he knows what to expect. If you cannot keep your routine as before, try creating new daily routines that will give your loved one a sense of peace and security.

7. Limit Distractions

There are times when you need to interact with your loved one to help him, but it can become difficult when you're busy with other things. You should eliminate any distraction that is causing your loved one to become agitated. You can do this by keeping the television or radio off while taking care of your loved one. 

8. Check for Any Discomfort

Your aging parent may have a hard time communicating with you. They have difficulty telling you they feel uncomfortable. So you must take time to identify the physical discomfort your loved one is having. Signs of physical discomfort include constantly being on the move, irritability, fidgeting, and having difficulty sitting in one place. Ensuring your aging loved one is physically comfortable will help reduce agitation and aggression. 

9. Check Medication Interactions

Your loved one may require medication to help with his agitation and aggression. However, many drugs have strong side effects that can cause hallucinations and mood swings in seniors with Alzheimer's. For this reason, you need to check with their physician to ensure that it will not create a reaction when taken with other prescriptions.

10. Call for Help

If any aggression or agitation continues after these actions have been taken care of, call for help from a professional specializing in treating behavior problems with older people. You can also try talking with an anger management therapist who can help you manage any anger issues that may occur.

Agitation and aggression in older adults are unpredictable and may cause harm to you or your loved one. You should take action immediately when you sense these symptoms so that your loved one's safety is guaranteed. Remember trying to handle the situation yourself will not be easy, but it is doable if you prepare yourself emotionally and physically before beginning the task. Having all of the information necessary will give you an advantage on how to manage this situation.

Author Bio

I'm Andrea Gibbs, Born, raised, and still living in New York. I'm a work-at-home mom with a background in business development, strategy, and social media marketing. I'm a blog contributor at Serenity Senior care to motivate other parents about how they can enhance their elderly loved ones quality of life.