Alzheimer's Disease Support Group

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia and characterized by progressive cognitive deterioration with declining activities of daily living and neuropsychiatric symptoms or behavioral changes. An early symptom is memory loss (amnesia), usually manifesting as minor forgetfulness that becomes pronounced with illness progression, with relative...

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weird situation

Deborah48
Deborah48
We went to a friend's this past weekend. My buddy from HS had his lady friend walk out on him. we (just my husband and I) stayed with him for 2 days and 2 nights. It was just the 3 of us- quiet but of course not really a happy fun time. The weird thing is my husband was better than he is at home or anywhere else. He spoke better. He was less aggitatated, more relaxed, less confused. Today we are home and he is back to his confused self, repeating everything, uptight, hardly able to get words out....

I don't understand, any thoughts Idea, etc
dancingd
dancingd
I've heard that some AH people are more agitated at home than in strange places..it has to do with they know when they are at home ,that they are "off" somewhat.In a strange place,everything is different anyway,so they don't feel the "off" feeling they do in familiar surroundings.
Deborah48
Deborah48
So basically when they are home there are reminders to them of who they were, what they used to do and what they can't do now. When they are in unfamiliar surroundings they have nothing to remind them of what they have lost. Hm, that makes a lot of sense.
Pam65
Pam65
Interesting. I know my mother will do the same in completely strange situations. For some reason, she seems to be able to fall back on social behaviors she's known forever. She's only in those situations for 15 minutes at a home, if that, so I've never thought about it. At home, she'll be exhausted for 24 hours after pulling it together for awhile..
Deborah48
Deborah48
Yes, Pam, that is true once he gets home he will definitely sleep more, like today he slept until 10 and usually he is up at 7.
dancingd
dancingd
I've also read ,there comes a time when the AH person will become very agitated at seeing (but not knowing) a family member..care homes will ask the family to stop coming to see the AH person.
Again it comes down to knowing they "should know things" ,and they don't.It becomes an over load to their brains.
deleted_user
deleted_user
So interesting. I am going to pay more attention when we are out of the house.