| Abuse of any kind is difficult to deal with. Types of | | | | One way to deal with the situation before it |
| verbal abuse can include the following: | | | | becomes a big problem is to try humor. You cannot |
| - Does your loved one ignore your feelings? | | | | control how your loved one is acting but you can |
| - Is he disrespectful? | | | | decrease the feelings of frustration by controlling |
| - Does he withhold approval, appreciation or | | | | how you respond. Try to validate your loved one's |
| affection? | | | | feelings; it will definitely help him. Many times, people |
| - Does he walk away without answering you? | | | | with Alzheimer's are so frustrated that they act it |
| - Does he criticize you, call you names or yell at you? | | | | out through verbal abuse and aggression. Put yourself |
| - Does he humiliate you in public or in the privacy of | | | | in his place. It is very frustrating! |
| your home? | | | | The most important thing you have to remember is |
| - Does he tell you that you are too sensitive? | | | | not to talk "down" to your loved one because he is |
| - Does he destroy furniture or punch holes in the | | | | still a person with an entire life history of success and |
| walls? | | | | independence. If you see that what you are trying to |
| These are some of the signs, but there are many | | | | do or say to him is not working, just let it go for a |
| more that may be observed. Abuse is difficult to deal | | | | while, step out of the room and come back later. Let |
| with if the abuser has Alzheimer's disease since the | | | | your loved one calm down and relax. You may want |
| abuser can't really control it. | | | | to try music. Studies have shown that Alzheimer's |
| If a person with Alzheimer's becomes verbally | | | | patients often find music relaxing. |
| abusive, it may be because he is suffering from | | | | Finally, if you still feel overwhelmed, join a support |
| depression or aggressive behavior caused by the | | | | group that specifically deals with verbal abuse and |
| disease. In this case you might want to involve your | | | | learn how to cope with it. Many times other people in |
| doctor and let him know the situation. He may be | | | | the group will have experienced the same ordeal with |
| able to prescribe an anti-depressive medication or | | | | their loved ones. Group members may be able to |
| simply change the current medication. You may want | | | | counsel you on how they coped or dealt with this |
| to take a break from your loved one, as sometimes | | | | kind of behavior. |
| caring all the time for the same person can be | | | | This group will also help you to deal with your |
| exhausting. Or you can try to place your loved one in | | | | emotions and frustrations. They will tell you how to |
| an adult day care, or hire some professional help. | | | | control them, and once you are able to deal with |
| Make sure that substitute caregivers are | | | | your own feelings, then you will be more effective |
| knowledgeable about Alzheimer's disease and know | | | | coping with your loved one's behavior. |
| how to handle patients with dementia. | | | | |