Aggression in dementia

modesty22

Hello everyone I just found this group and was wondering if you guys can give me some pointers. My mother and grandmother just passed within the last year so my sister and I have became my grandfathers full time caregiver. I am 21 and my sister is 24 so we are pretty new at all of this. My grandfather has been getting very violent and hitting us coming after us and we don’t know what to do to handle it or to calm him down. Any pointers would be very appreciated.

M1

Welcome to the forum, and i am so sorry you are faced with this responsibility at such a young age. Medication is your best bet for tamping down the aggression. Talk to his doctors. If it can't be easily controlled he may need to be hospitalized for stabilization. Do you have power of attorney for him? Placement in a care home or memory care might work for all of you if affordable. Some people respond better to strangers than they do to family members.

harshedbuzz

@modesty22

Hi and welcome. I am sorry for the loss of your mom and grandmother. I am also sorry your grandfather's care has fallen on such young shoulders.

I agree with everything @M1 said. Medication can tamp this down. In your shoes, I would probably wait until he's agitated and hitting, call 911 and have him transferred to a geripsych unit for medication management. From there you should be able to work with a social worker on next steps. Placement in a MCF might be your best option all around as his care needs will become 24/7 and very intimate (incontinence care, bathing) at a time when you both need to be focusing on your own futures.

HB