Dementia is a condition that affects everyone differently, and the range of emotions exhibited by the patient can be exhausting for a family caregiver. It is difficult for everyone when a mother who has been docile throughout her entire life begins to express extreme anger; or when a loving Dad becomes verbally abusive. For most in this situation, understanding where the behaviors come from – and not taking them personally – can go a long way to restoring a more peaceful relationship. But no matter how well you deal with it, aggressive or abusive behavior in dementia patients is challenging to witness and even harder to cope with calmly.
Before we get into the more aggressive behaviors, we should note that many dementia patients actually exhibit the exact opposite behavior. A prevailing sense of apathy is just as common in dementia as aggression. With no ability to plan for the future, the dementia patient may sit idly for hours or even days at a time. They will likely let home repairs and chores go by the wayside, and they may neglect to pay their bills. In fact, many experience a complete loss of desire to do anything at all. Still, there is another potential side to dementia – and it is decidedly more volatile.
Behavior Issues Associated with Dementia
Many emotions may become prevalent in a dementia patient. These include agitation, irritability, combativeness, and inappropriate behavior. This is because the part of the brain responsible for regulating the response to stimuli is no longer functioning correctly, typically due to vascular damage.
In other words, when a healthy adult is angered, they can manage their response in large part and react in a socially acceptable manner. However, the dementia patient has often lost that cognitive ability, and they act – and react- without thinking about consequences or societal norms. They may engage in inappropriate behavior, begin to do or say unethical things, or express themselves with vulgarity. The uninhibited behavior that can characterize dementia is difficult to deal with, leading to dangerous situations.
When behavior problems manifest in dementia, there are a number of unpleasant consequences:
- The situation is heartbreaking, overwhelming, and exhausting for the caregiver.
- These behavior problems can result in valid safety concerns.
- Individuals act irresponsibly without considering the consequences.
- Anger can result in violence, especially if a convenient weapon is within reach.
Stubbornness and Willful Behavior
Any parent of young children can attest that willful behavior is not always the result of dementia.
However, when you combine willfulness with the aggressive behavior associated with dementia, it becomes difficult to reason with your aging parent. Individuals with dementia may exhibit both a lack of impulse control and apathy until you want them to respond to you appropriately – then, they can be exceptionally willful. For instance, your parent may sit in a chair all day and not care about using the bathroom. However, when you try to help them change their clothes or clean the chair, they can suddenly “snap out of it” and become furious at your efforts. These swings in emotion often come with little warning and can be quite dramatic.
These emotions and reactions may intensify in the evening, resulting from a phenomenon known as sundowning. To learn more, read here.
At A Banyan Residence, we recognize that caring for a dementia patient is a labor of love – but there may come a time when it is best for everyone involved to enlist professional help. If you are considering memory care for your senior loved one, call today for an appointment and private tour.
