Dementia-related aggression puts pressure on eldercare

Three in four Danish municipalities have seen growing challenges involving older people with dementia or mental health problems who display aggressive or difficult-to-understand behaviour, according to a survey reported by Danish broadcaster DR.

The survey was conducted by Momentum, the analysis magazine of Local Government Denmark. Staff at care homes are increasingly dealing with shouting, threats, pushing and assaults.

At Vesterlund Elderly Centre in Hjørring, social and healthcare assistant Anna-Karin Hansen says the problem varies over time but is generally growing.

“I have experienced a resident grabbing my arm so hard that I was completely bruised afterwards. It happened while I was alone on a night shift, and it was very unpleasant,” she says.

Elsebeth Glipstrup, an education consultant at the National Knowledge Centre for Dementia, says the behaviour usually has an underlying cause, although it can be difficult to identify.

People with dementia may be unable to explain what is wrong. The cause could be untreated arthritis pain, for example, or something connected to their personal history that they struggle to communicate.

Regardless of the cause, care staff are often left to manage the situation. Tanja Nielsen, sector chair for social and healthcare services at the FOA trade union, says the staff group is among those most affected by post-traumatic stress disorder nationwide.

“It is a stress reaction that occurs when you are repeatedly exposed to shouting, pinching, pushing and hitting,” she says.

Nielsen is calling for a dementia action plan that gives care workers the necessary skills and knowledge. She says the government must provide resources so municipalities can address the problem, which is handled differently depending on their financial capacity.

Dorte West, chair of Local Government Denmark’s Health and Elderly Care Committee, also says municipalities need a boost and permanent funding. She argues that previous dementia initiatives have focused mainly on diagnosis and medication management, while more attention is needed on preventing problems and ensuring a good everyday life.

Denmark’s elderly minister, Jacob Mark, says a new dementia plan will address the need for more trained staff.

“There must be enough staff who have enough time, and they must be trained and understand dementia. They must be familiar faces, so that meeting them is not uncomfortable or frightening for people with dementia,” he says.