Mom 89 has alz dementia is having anger and agression

sncshiner

Mom was diagnosed about a year ago and is now having anger and agression issues. She's taking medication for the moods but its not cutting it. She has good minute and bad minutes and back to good again. I was going to say good days but felt that wasnt correct. I believe she is still capable to shower and take care of her hygiene but the main problem is anger. Anyone have any ideas?

catmarch

I'm afraid I don't have any suggestions, but I just wanted to give you support and know you aren't alone. My Dad's anger is awful at times and other times he's completely okay. He knows he has Alzheimer's but will call it "short term memory loss". He forgets ALL of the time to change his underwear. He still brushes his teeth and things like that, but I need to tell him when to shower and change because he just doesn't do it. He also gets very agitated whenever there is a change in a routine. He will become short of breath and not acting right. I've talked to his doctor because I'm thinking he gets anxiety, but they said he shouldn't go on medication for that.

Again, I'm so sorry you are going through this with your mom. It's not easy

SDianeL

welcome. Sorry about your Mom’s diagnosis. Anxiety, agitation and aggression is very common in dementia. Medications are difficult to manage. It takes awhile to find the right combination and doses. A Geriatric Psychiatrist is the best type of doctor to manage them. I would speak to her doctor and explain that the current med and dose isn’t working and ask for a referral to a Geriatric Psychiatrist. You mentioned that you think she is capable of managing her shower and hygiene. Does that mean she lives alone? Depending on what stage of dementia she’s in, it may not be safe for her to live alone any longer. Do you have a DPOA and other legal forms done? If not those should be a priority. Also read the book “The 36 Hour Day” which was recommended by a nurse. Search online for dementia caregiving videos. Come here often for info and support.

Kim400

Lexapro has been very helpful for my dad. We just doubled the dose.

PAHelen

My mother was diagnosed with dementia a year ago and is also showing aggression and physical altercations with helpers and staff at appointments like hearing aid cks. I appreciate the support here. As of now she’s able to discuss what happened, but remembers the incidents quite differently than what really happened. My brother and I have been able to talk with her explaining to try and count to 5, or ask to have a moment to stand and leave the situation. We’re hoping if we can help her model these strategies we could start a new habit to help her. We are also scheduling an appointment with her neurologist to discuss any meds that might help with anxiety (thx for the Lexapro post) but understand that meds are sometimes not advised with the elderly. Mom is 91 and we’re still able to spend good quality time with her for which we’re grateful. Thank you.

schindlerpatty00

Im having the same issue with my mom she's 89 and has Alzheimer's/dementia becoming very aggressive and mean towards me she's also on meds but not helping too much Im her caregiver it's becoming really hard emotionally for me I'm trying to find some support groups on this site?

H1235

I have had this issue with my mom as well. It took a long time to find the right medication and dose. She is living in a nursing home now and I wonder if some or the reason for her improved mood is that she is not exposed to the triggers she was in the past. She insisted she was perfectly capable of mowing her own lawn, wanted to power wash her wood swing and stain it, I could go on and on. In the nursing home she doesn’t see her swing, so she doesn’t bring it up. Maybe that’s part of it, I don’t know. Her mood is much better now, but she still rolls her eyes at me if she doesn’t get what she wants. Don’t give up on the medication, ask the doctor about an increased dose or a different medication.

SDianeL

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/259163#Comment_259163

welcome. You are at the right place for info and support. You will get more replies if you create a new post with subject. Click on the plus sign at the bottom of the page to create a new post. To get started, read the book “The 36 Hour Day” which will help get you started with learning how to care for your Mom.

SDianeL

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/259160#Comment_259160

Welcome. You will get more replies by posting a new post. Click on the plus sign at the bottom of the page. To get started read the book”The 36 Hour Day” which will help. Your Mom remembering the story differently is called confabulation. It’s common in dementia. You will not be able to get her to model different behaviors. She is incapable of remembering or understanding. 2 rules I learned here: 1) never argue with someone with dementia and 2) you can’t reason with someone whose reasoner is broken. I would ask her doctor for anti-psychotic medication. A Geriatric Psychiatrist is the best type of doctor to manage those meds for dementia. You might want to go with her in the future to all appointments.

BFD

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/259188#Comment_259188

Would you be willing to say what medication (s) finally did work to help your mom? It just gives me a a direction to ask about for my brother

H1235

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/259240#Comment_259240

I think so, but it was a long road. She had been on Effexor for many years prior to diagnosis, but that wasn’t working anymore. They added a mood stabilizer, but after giving it several months we gave up on that. We were then told that Amitriptyline would be a better fit for her than Effexor. So they slowly decreased the Effexor and added a low dose of the Amitriptyline. This was really rough! She was an emotional mess! The dose was gradually increased over what seemed like 6 months, til she was finally doing better. She was probably 2+ years into her diagnosis before we finally got to this point. It’s hard to say what other factors might have also contributed to the improvement. She lived with my brother for one year after diagnosis (not a good environment for her) she then moved to Al for a year ( ran out of money) and is now in a nursing home. The nursing home provides considerably more structure and care than she received at my brothers (he worked full time outside the home) and I think this has to have a positive effect on her. Through all of this she rarely shared her anger and upset with anyone but me. But I’m sure she was angry even when I was not around. I just made it hard for doctors to know what was going. This stuff is so difficult.