How do dementia carers cope with abusive behaviour?
Those who are suffering with dementia will undoubtedly experience a number of personality changes as a result of how the illness effects the brain. This is to be expected and can be prepared for but how do carers cope when the placid and kind person they once new becomes violent and aggressive?
A new study has found that over a third of people caring for relatives with dementia have reported experiencing abuse such as being shouted at insulted, sworn at, screamed at and some had even been hit or slapped.
U.S research looking into dementia has found that approximately a quarter of sufferers exhibited aggressive and agitated behaviour and U.K research has found 1 in 5 patients to be aggressive.
The most recent study involved interviewing 220 individuals who spent at least four hours a week caring for a family member with dementia. In the interviews experts would ask questions about types of behaviour and questions about relationship satisfaction between themselves and the person they were caring for were also asked.
Those who experienced the most abuse were unsurprisingly the least happy in their relationship and were the most likely to report deterioration since the onset of dementia.
If you are taking care of someone with dementia and you are finding it difficult to cope with aggressive and upsetting behaviour then it is important to remember that it is not a reflection on you. Talk to your doctor and find out what help is available for you. A few of the options available could include some help around the home, respite care or changes in the treatment for the person you’re caring for. Talking to another carer may also provide you with some helpful insight as would talking to a counsellor. Have a look on the Alzheimer’s Society website (www.alzheimers.org.uk) which has a fantastic section offering tips for carers.
Read the original article here.