What do you do when your loved one with Alzheimer's tries to hit the caregiver?

In my opinion, this is a reason to place the patient in a facility. Depending upon the severity of his/her impairment, pt may be MORE likely to try to attack a loved one than a professional caregiver. When pt has lost the ability to communicate pain, fear, and other emotions, more primitive means of communication get used.

Has the patient been checked for UTI, other infections and/or broken bones that may have gone undetected?

Callie, what medications is the patient on? What sort of doctor said that there was nothing that could be done about it? Are you in the US?

we did and they said there is nothing to do about it.

You get her to a geriatric psychiatrist for medication.