Coping With Agressive Behavior

Aggressive behavior in a loved one with Alzheimer's or Dementia can include shouting, cornering someone, raising a hand to someone, or actually pushing or hitting. Unfortunately, aggression among people with dementia can happen suddenly and seemingly without warning.

Here are a few suggestions for coping:

• Try to identify what triggered the aggression so that the antecedent can be eliminated or modified as soon as possible.
• As difficult as it may be, react in a calm, reassuring way and focus on the person's feelings.
• Reduce environmental distractions as much as possible, such as loud noises or potentially frightening shadows or movements.
• Redirecting an aggressive person to an enjoyable activity can be remarkably effective.

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Dementia Signage for the Home