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Lesson 3. Aggression

Why does aggression happen

Why does aggression happen?

From time to time, people with dementia may become angry, aggressive or violent.

Aggression can happen for a variety of reasons. It can be due to unmet needs, illness such as a urinary tract infection,
medication combinations or side effects, or something that is happening around the person with dementia.

In addition, people with dementia may have difficulty understanding others, judging social situations, control their feelings or expressing themselves like they did before. They may also have personality or mental health changes that contribute to aggressive behaviors.

At times, aggression is displayed towards people known to the person living with dementia. At other times it can be with strangers. Aggression is often one of the most difficult things to cope with for carers.
1.Activity
Let’s look at your situation
Check your answer, yes or no.
Does the person you care for ever talk to you or other people in an aggressive way?
Does the person you care for ever act aggressively towards you or other people?

WARNING!

  • If the person is suddenly behaving aggressively, there may be an underlying cause (for example a urinary infection) that should be investigated by a doctor.
Do you remember the cycle of behaviour change?

Just like we mentioned in Lesson 1. Introduction to behaviour changes, it is important to break down the cycle of stressful responses into three parts in order to help you deal with them.
 
Here they are



Let’s see how the cycle works with a different example.
 
Rashid wants to assist his father, Mousa, in taking a bath because Mousa needs to see a doctor. Rashid says: “it is time for your bath”. Mousa refuses. Rashid has little time and tugs on his father  arm. He says: “you need to bathe because you’re going to see the doctor.” Mousa pulls his arm back and resists. He is much stronger than Rashid. Rashid tugs it again and says angrily: “you must take a bath because you are going to the doctor and need to be clean”. Mousa gets very angry, shouts and even tries to shove Rashid, who becomes upset.
1. Check your understanding
Understanding aggressive behaviour.

Mousa angrily refuses to take a bath
Can you break down the cycle of behavior change in this example into its three parts? Please fill in the boxes below.

What comes before the behavior? What is the stressful behaviour ? What is Rashid’s response?
Rashid tugs Mousa’s arm and says angrily: “you must take a bath because you are going to the doctor and need to be clean”. Yes
Mousa gets very upset and shouts and even tries to shove Rashid. Rashid becomes upset.

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