Ways to get an aggressive alzheimers patient to go to the bathroom?

Question

I am a caregiver for an elderly lady with Alzheimer's. She is aggressive and thinks I am a kidnapper, and is constantly telling me that she is going to put a bullet in my head, she also thinks she has a knife and tries to stab me. I know she can't help it because she is so far gone she does not come back to reality at all. When I wake her to the bathroom to change her out of her soiled pants she does not comply and sits down on the floor always yelling I broke her leg. She lives in the basement of her sons house who is there during the day. I have to constantly bother him to help me with her.

I never had formal training for this job and I am doing my best. Has anyone else worked with an aggressive Alzheimer's patient? I need tricks and tips mainly for getting her to walk to the bathroom!

Answer 1

Been there, done that.  Every alzheimer pt. has their little quarks about them, you have to find hers.  Most of the time, you need to treat them like children, baby them, talk softly, if after time you still have no luck, talk to the sons about medications that could help. Bribery may help. How about attends, and change her in the bed so she wont need to get up.  Maybe you need to be more stern, how does the son do it. Good luck.

Answer 2

I would suggest her son make an appt. to check with the doctor to medicate her so it is easier to care for her and easier for her to go through these things.

Keep in mind that alzheimer's patients UNDERSTAND what we're saying, but due to the deterioration in their brain, they sometimes are unable to respond correctly.

Medicating them is the best way to control the situation.  

Also if you're not trained, this has got to be incredibly difficult for her.  I would suggest getting "Alzheimer's for Dummies" if you're going to stay in this profession.  The Dummies books are well written by subject specialists and are a great reference material.

Many people who care for family\friends who suffer from alzheimer's are very lost in how to handle the situation.  Since you're caregiving, it's important to take care of yourself and to be there at the doctors to go over what she does.

Also, if not licensed, you're opening yourself up for a lawsuit.  Sorry, but I need to be honest when answering.

Good luck.

Answer 3

Sometimes people with Alzheimer's can be very challenging. You really can not make a person do something they do not want to do. Often you do need 2 people to handle a person that is in this stage of the disease. Has this lady's son spoken to the Dr about getting some medication to lessen her anxiety.