Agitation and aggression are common in dementia, especially when routines or surroundings change. You can reduce these episodes by staying calm and understanding the causes.
What Causes Agitation
- Changes in routine, setting, or caregivers
- Too much noise or stimulation
- Realizing they cannot do things they once could
What You Can Do
- Speak gently. Reassure them that you understand and are here to help.
- Keep a consistent daily routine.
- Use music, reading, or walks to create a calm atmosphere.
- Help them feel connected with family photos at eye level.
- Watch your own stress. Your tone and mood can influence how they feel.
Top Tip: When agitation builds, try to redirect with empathy rather than confront with logic. Don’t argue or correct. Instead, listen to the emotion behind the words and shift the focus to something comforting or familiar. Over time, you’ll become skilled at gently steering conversations away from distress and toward calm. This is a vital caregiving tool.
If Aggression Becomes Threatening
In some moments, agitation can escalate into threatening behavior. If your loved one is at risk of harming you or themselves, your safety matters.
What to Do in the Moment
- Create distance if needed. Step back, move to another room, or leave the space briefly if you can do so safely.
- Lower stimulation immediately. Reduce noise, turn off the TV, and remove other people from the area if possible.
- Keep your voice calm and simple. Use short, reassuring phrases like “You’re safe” or “I’m here to help.”
- Avoid physical confrontation. Do not restrain, block exits, or argue, as this can increase fear and aggression.
- Remove potential hazards. If safe to do so, move objects that could be used to cause harm out of reach.
If aggression becomes frequent, intense, or includes threats of harm, contact a healthcare provider. Sudden changes in behavior may be linked to pain, infection, medication side effects, or another medical issue that needs attention.
FAQs
What causes agitation and aggression in dementia?
Changes in routine, overstimulation, confusion, or realizing lost abilities can all trigger agitation or aggressive behavior.
How should I respond when my loved one becomes agitated?
Speak gently, keep routines consistent, lower stimulation, and redirect with reassurance rather than arguing or correcting.
What should I do if aggression becomes threatening?
Prioritize safety by creating distance, reducing stimulation, avoiding confrontation, and removing potential hazards if it’s safe to do so.
Want to Learn More?
We hope this tip helps you on your caregiver journey. To learn more, visit our guides to dementia and Alzheimer’s and memory care. These articles are a great place to start learning about this disease and what care looks like in a memory care community.
For more answers to quick common questions, visit our FAQ page.
You can also check out our upcoming events for caregiver education and support.