Who to Contact IF the Person You Support with Dementia Becomes Aggressive

When someone you care for is living with dementia, there may be moments when their behaviour changes in ways that feel frightening or unsafe. This can include shouting, threatening behaviour, or physical aggression. In those moments, carers are often left asking where they can go for help in the moment, when things are unfolding and support feels urgently needed.

The guidance below focuses specifically on what to do when behaviour becomes aggressive or creates concerns about safety, what different services are able to do in practice, and how to reach the right support without being passed between services at a time when stress levels are already high.

Note on context: The information below reflects current arrangements in Stockton-on-Tees as of February 2026. Services and contact routes vary between local authorities, so if you are accessing support in another area, it may be helpful to check your local council’s Adult Social Care contact details.

If anyone is in immediate danger

If there is immediate risk to life or safety – whether to yourself, the person you support, or others – call 999.

When you call 999, you will be asked which service you need (police, ambulance, or fire).

• If the concern is about aggressive behaviour and you feel unsafe, it is appropriate to ask for police support.
• If someone is injured, collapses, or becomes suddenly unwell, ask for an ambulance.
• If you are unsure which service to request, explain what is happening and the call handler will direct the call to the appropriate service.

Emergency responses in these situations are about safety and protection, not blame or punishment. Where dementia is involved, emergency responders can work alongside health and social care services to help stabilise the situation and link into appropriate follow-up support.

Adult Social Care First Contact Team – when aggression or safety becomes a concern

When behaviour becomes aggressive or safety at home feels at risk, and there is not an immediate medical emergency, the first point of contact is:

Adult Social Care – First Contact Team (Stockton-on-Tees)
Telephone: 01642 527 764
Out of hours: 01642 524 552

Adult Social Care is the gateway to social work involvement. If there is not already a named social worker, this is how one is accessed. The team can respond to concerns about risk, safeguarding, and breakdown in care arrangements, and can connect families with a social worker who can take practical action.

This may include:

• Urgent assessment of safety and care needs
• Putting interim support in place at home
• Coordinating safeguarding responses
• Supporting crisis planning when home no longer feels safe
• Exploring respite, short-term placements, or changes in care arrangements

The role of a Social Worker – practical interventions, not just advice

Social workers assess risk, capacity, and care needs and are able to put practical interventions in place when aggression or safety concerns escalate.

This can include:

• Carrying out care and needs assessments
• Increasing or changing care support
• Arranging respite or short-term placements
• Supporting decisions about changes in living arrangements
• Working alongside health professionals when needs are complex
• Initiating safeguarding processes when someone is at risk

If a named social worker is already involved, they can be contacted directly when concerns escalate. If not, Adult Social Care will link carers to a social worker.

Dementia Advisors and Carer Support Services – valuable support, but not crisis intervention

Dementia advisors and carer support workers provide important ongoing support, including:

• Information about dementia and local services
• Emotional support for carers
• Talking through options
• Signposting to other forms of help

They are often trusted points of contact. However, they cannot arrange emergency care, authorise safeguarding actions, or put crisis interventions in place. When behaviour has become aggressive or safety is at risk, contacting these services first may delay access to the level of support that is needed.

In moments of crisis, Adult Social Care remains the most direct route to practical action.

The Memory Clinic – when aggression may be linked to changes in dementia

Memory clinics support people living with dementia through:

• Ongoing clinical assessment
• Monitoring changes in cognition and behaviour
• Reviewing and adjusting dementia-related medication

If behaviour has changed significantly and there is concern that this may be linked to changes in the dementia itself, it can be helpful to document what is happening and speak with the person’s GP. The GP can refer back to the memory clinic for reassessment or medication review.

Memory clinics are not set up to respond to immediate safety concerns or crisis situations. Their role sits within longer-term clinical review.

Understanding aggression and distress in dementia

Aggression and behaviour that feels challenging is an if, not a when in dementia. It is not inevitable. When it does occur, it is often an expression of distress or unmet need. This may relate to:

• Pain or physical discomfort
• Fatigue or illness
• Fear, confusion, or feeling overwhelmed
• Feeling rushed, restricted, or misunderstood
• Boredom or lack of meaningful engagement
• Difficulty communicating needs

At times, the person living with dementia may perceive something in their environment or in an interaction as a threat. What appears outwardly as aggression is often communication of distress when words are no longer accessible.

When carers are already exhausted, frightened, or under pressure, responses can understandably become more hurried or firmer than usual. This is not a failing – it is a human response to stress. At the same time, changes in tone, pace, or body language can sometimes be experienced by the person living with dementia as threatening or overwhelming. Recognising these interaction patterns is not about blame, but about understanding what can sometimes escalate or ease distress in the moment.

Building confidence in responding when behaviour becomes challenging

Training focused on understanding and responding to distress and aggression in dementia is due to launch shortly. The session is designed to support carers and practitioners to:

• Better understand why aggression and distress can occur
• Recognise triggers and unmet needs
• Respond in ways that reduce distress rather than escalate it
• Feel more confident and less alone in difficult moments

Opportunities to take part in both online and in-person sessions will be shared.

A final reflection

When aggression emerges, carers are often already exhausted, frightened, and unsure where to turn. Having clear routes to support can reduce some of the pressure in the moment.

Knowing that Adult Social Care is the direct route to social work interventions when safety is a concern, and understanding the distinct roles of dementia advisors, carer support services, and memory clinics, can help reduce uncertainty at a time when thinking clearly is hardest.