Husband hit 89 year old wife

The most common approach is often to call 911 during such an episode. (If she doesn't feel she can she may be she needs to quietly text you to call 911 and you explain or similar.) The police and EMTs would transport him to the hospital on a psych hold. Ideally he would go to a geriatric psych unit for medication management, although some communities don't have one and it's done in a regular pysch inpatient unit. Once stable he would be released either home or to a memory care facility. If she wanted him to go to memory care this is the opportunity, she would work with the hospital's social worker to find placement. It is likely to happen again, please take this seriously. You can also contact his doctor and see if they will do a direct admit to a psych unit, bypassing the 911 part. He needs medication to stabilize this behavior. PWD have and do hurt their caregivers, sometimes severely. Sometimes they were the nicest, most gentle person before dementia and they still become violent, it can just be luck of the draw. Hide all things that could be used as a weapon, make sure mom has a safety plan - always having her phone or an apple watch she can use to call for help, a safe room with a lock she can go to while calling.