Agitation progressing

Vickig71

The lady I take care of is 85 and has had Alzheimer's for a year. She is progressively getting worse but her family won't accept anything I tell them. This week she is becoming aggressive and argumentative and it doesn't matter what I say it irritates her. I've kept Alzheimer's patients for 8 years and I'm not having any luck with calming her down. Any suggestions?

SusanB-dil

Hi Vickig - Could you try to have the family there during her more worse times? Maybe write down the times and what she is being argumentative about? sort of like a journal for the family to see.

It sounds like you've tried other methods - just agreeing, distracting, etc...

napoli

Hello Vickig71 What anti-anxiety medication is she taking? You didn’t mention any medication for agitation or anxiety.

Iris L.

Can you video what you are describing with your phone to show to the family?

Iris

SDianeL

I would insist the family get her to a doctor who can prescribe medication to calm her. You can't reason with someone with ALZ or Dementia. Someone said on this forum that her "reasoner" is broken. Read the book "The 36 Hour Day" it gives lots of tips to care for patients with memory loss. Usually distraction is better than trying to reason. She's angry at the disease, not at you.