Aggressive Behaviors
Description of Behavior
Aggressive behaviors are actions that are threatening or harmful and can be physical in nature (hitting, kicking, biting, grabbing people or things, throwing things) or verbal (screaming, cursing, making threats).
Why behavior might occur
Aggressive behaviors may be the result of a person having unmet needs and not being able to express them to staff, too much sensory stimulation, or frustration related to reliance on memory.
Responding to aggressive behaviors
- Explain to the person step-by-step in a calm voice what is happening.
- Remove any residents/staff in the immediate area who may be in danger.
- Be mindful of your body language and voice: keep a pleasant face and non-defensive posture (don’t cross arms). Speak in a slow, firm but not loud voice.
- Do not have multiple staff approach the resident. Approach the resident from the side- not front.
- Initiate a “time out”- if resident is safe, leave them alone until the situation de-escalates.
- Try immediate distraction to de-escalate the situation. For example: Using an excited but pleasant voice say“ Mary, did you see what is going on in the activity room?? Come with me!’ This may help remove the person from the precipitating situation.
- Slowly assess for unmet needs (presence of pain, hunger/thirst, hot or cold body, temperature, need to go to the bathroom) and attempt to meet the resident’s need with caution and in a safe manner.
- Reduce stimulation in the environment (control noise levels) and promote a calm environment (soft lighting, avoid crowding).
- Provide and encourage appropriate activities, such as exercise, in a safe space to allow for a physical release of energy.
- Provide individualized activities which the resident may respond to (based on their past and present identity, personality, demographic information such as gender, and which are appropriate for their cognitive, physical and sensory abilities).
- Break tasks down into simple, manageable steps and proceed with one at a time.
