Suddenly Angry

The confusion and loss of memory associated with Alzheimer's Disease can sometimes cause your loved one to lash out in anger for even the smallest or seemingly irrelevant issue. Try these tips to defuse your loved one's anger:

1. Try pausing and coming back in 5 or 10 minutes. Try saying, “Mom, I’m so sorry I misunderstood what you wanted for breakfast. I’ll be back in a few minutes to check in with you.”
2. Think about what happened right before the outburst. Can you detect a pattern to avoid in the future? If your loved one tends to get very tired in the afternoon, for example, he or she may get angry if you try to engage them in activities then. Try planning more activities in the morning and give your loved one a break in the afternoon.
3. Perhaps your loved one is experiencing pain or illness. Your loved one could have a toothache, arthritis pain, or simply be sick. Watch for sudden changes. If your usually  happy-go-lucky dad  is suddenly moody and angry, that is usually a good sign that he has a physical health issue.
4. Try talking about a favorite subject from your loved one’s life story. Talking about his or her  childhood, favorite foods, or experiences can sometimes change a bad mood into a good one.