Agitation, hallucinations, paranoid delusions, aggression, wandering in dementia.
These severe behavioural complications of dementia occur in over 50% of patients.
Aggression in elderly dementia patients is a real challenge for Carers.
It commonly causes massive Carer stress.
These symptoms commonly lead to Carer collapse and nursing home placement unless treated.
People with dementia commonly get more confused, agitated and aggressive in the afternoon and evening when they more tired.
The wandering older person is very difficult to manage because wandering is the least likely symptom of dementia to respond to medications.
The wandering older person and elderly wandering at night may respond to anti-psychotic medications if they are acting out a delusion wanting to go to work at night or to find their previous house.
Nearly all aggressive dementia patients have paranoid delusions. These symptoms can successfully treated with medications.
Insomnia and nocturnal agitation with restlessness can be treated with medications to help these very distressed people and help the Carers manage.
Non-drug behavioural strategies are grossly over-emphasised and their benefits exaggerated. These severe behavioural complications of dementia require drug treatment.
Dementia agitation requires treatment with medications.
Even with fairly advanced dementia these severe behavioural complications of dementia can be successfully treated in many patients with medication for dementia agitation with spectacular improvements in symptoms and quality of life for the patients and Carers.
For more information read Dr Peter Lipski’s book “Your Elderly Parents Failing Health. Is It Ageing Or A Treatable Condition”.