Can Dementia Cause Violent Behavior?
There is a common misconception that dementia is restricted to the mind. Dementia has the potential to manifest in the physical form through destructive behavior. In particular, dementia patients are likely to exhibit behavioral disturbance through violent acts. Dementia with behavioral disturbance is partially offset with dementia aggression treatment though no cure exists.
Violent behavior is especially likely to occur in the final stages of dementia. It is at this point that dementia patients develop psychological and behavioral dementia, commonly referred to with the acronym of BPSD. BPSD is demonstrated in the physical through agitation that has the potential to include abuse. Some dementia patients abuse others physically while others demean others with words. Even screaming or shouting constitutes a form of violent behavior spurred by dementia.
What Causes Aggressive Behavior in Dementia Patients?
Dementia patients sometimes become aggressive as a result of their diminished cognitive functionality. Those with aging parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and other relatives should be aware of the fact that the patient in question is no longer him or her true self. However, it is also worth mentioning that diminished cognitive function due to the aging process can also confuse a patient to the point that he or she cannot pinpoint the exact cause of physical discomfort. Some such patients demonstrate their pain and confusion in the form of physical aggression.
Why is Aggressive Behavior a Symptom of Dementia?
Dementia patients are no longer able to make sense of their surroundings as they did in the past. Seniors saddled by dementia often lash out at those nearest to them simply because doing so is possible and convenient. BPSD sufferers’ screaming, shouting, heightened agitation, odd beliefs, and even outright physical abuse can all create a chaotic living space and considerable harm.
Dementia patients who become aggressive toward others are not to be blamed or punished as they are not fully aware of their actions. However, if the behavior devolves to the point that it causes meaningful harm to a loved one, caregiver or other party, intervention is appropriate.
Is Dementia a Behavioral Health Diagnosis?
The World Health Organization, commonly referred to with the acronym of WHO, insists that dementia diagnoses are to be recategorized as nervous system diseases. In short, it appears as though dementia’s labeling as a behavioral or mental disorder will no longer apply moving forward. There is certainly an argument to be made that dementia primarily impacts a patient’s mental health yet it is not considered a mental illness. Rather, dementia is a brain disorder that has the potential to lead to the loss of communication skills and memory.
What are the Three Behavioral Problems Associated With Dementia?
Dementia causes significant behavioral issues. If your parent or grandparent has dementia, anticipate episodes of agitation, depression, aggression, insomnia, and psychosis. The majority of dementia sufferers will experience at least one of these problems as time progresses.
What Type of Dementia Sometimes Lends itself to Manipulative Behavior?
Certain dementia patients morph into manipulative people who do not resemble their former self. FTD, short for frontotemporal dementia or Pick’s disease, impacts segments of the brain that control decision-making, personality, and behavior. Elderly individuals with FTD are inclined to verbalize or do things that are not appropriate in social contexts as they can no longer discern right from wrong.
How to Deal With Aggressive Behavior in Dementia Patients
Dementia patients who demonstrate aggressive behavior should be comforted and reassured, ideally by a professional care provider, relative, or other vetted party. Do your best to make your loved one feel as though he or she still has control and agency, meaning the ability to make decisions and execute those decisions in the form of action on one’s own. A senior who perceives him or herself to have at least a limited level of autonomy will be inspired to make a wholehearted effort to attempt to make sense of his or her environment.
Above all, a senior who has at least limited autonomy will prove more likely to adhere to the all-important daily routine. The optimal senior routine consists of doing the same activities over and over again each day, be it bathing, brushing one’s teeth, flossing, preparing/eating meals, etc.
Encourage the senior you love to implement personal time for reading, praying or enjoying peace and quiet. Balance social activities and exercise with solitude and the dementia patient in your life won’t be nearly as likely to act out aggressively toward others.
Treatment for Dementia With Behavioral Disturbance
Senior citizens battling dementia characterized by behavioral disturbances benefit from exercising and participating in activities that require physical movement. If you spot your loved one pacing or exhibiting signs of restlessness, reassure him or her that everything is a right and suggest an activity to focus on. Minimize the surrounding noise, make a concerted attempt to suppress confusion and shift the conversation to the activity or exercise selected as a convenient digression away from destructive mental waywardness.
At-home Care With Dementia Patients
Caring for a loved one dealing with dementia is a burden no one should bear alone. When in doubt, ask for assistance from a homecare service provider. Ideally, a team of people will work together to provide loved ones with care. Keep in mind, caregivers also need time for introspection, rest and relaxation. If you are the sole care provider for your parent or other relative, consider taking some time off to focus on yourself or your career by letting a homecare specialist provide the majority of the necessary care.
Dementia patients have the potential to forget where they are, become disoriented and fall. Some dementia sufferers benefit from specialized devices designed specifically for the interior of the house. Position grab bars in bathrooms. If the house has a gun, keep it in a locked cabinet or other locked compartment that the dementia patient cannot access. Even the addition of carpets carefully tacked to the floor or reinforcing current carpeting has the potential to help prevent a deadly fall.