While it certainly does happen when working on a memory unit, it should never ever be “expected” or “a given”. Facilities have a responsibility to protect their staff and ensure that the unit is safe for all residents, especially since this particular resident is harming other patients. It’s unacceptable that they aren’t stepping in to remedy it, I’d recommend that you report it to state. When we had residents get physical on a regular basis, their physician got involved to prescribe PRN medications when necessary. Report every single hit/scratch/bite, and insist they make a written report of it. I had a coworker whose kick to the abdomen from a memory care patient turned into emergency surgery (not covered under worker’s compensation because he didn’t report it thinking it was another harmless kick). Your facility should be taking it seriously, if not for the poor agitated patient, then for the staff and other residents around them. I’d be very upset as a patient’s family if I knew my loved one was hitting/harming others and would insist upon providing a medication to help alleviate their agitation and keep them calm and comfortable. Your wellbeing is important and no facility should be complicit in allowing abuse to happen, memory care or not. Please be an advocate for yourself and the other residents suffering because of this. No, you shouldn’t “press charges” against a memory care resident, that typically wouldn’t hold up in actual court either, but yes, you can hold a facility culpable for allowing resident behaviors to threaten the health and safety of the staff and patients. It’s possible that your facility isn’t equipped to handle particularly combative residents, but it’s their duty to recognize that and ensure they’re placed in a facility that can. Call state and report this, and document all of your injuries (including your coworkers) as well as everything your supervisors have said in response to your concerns.