Dementia Support Group

Dementia is the progressive decline in cognitive function due to damage or disease in the brain beyond what might be expected from normal aging. Particularly affected areas may be memory, attention, language and problem solving, although particularly in the later stages of the condition, affected persons may be disoriented in time, place and person (not knowing who they...

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Brain & Nervous System
/ Dementia Support Group

Early stages of Dementia.

minpinluvr65
minpinluvr65
Hi. My mom is showin early stages of Dementia. Her biggest problem is she packs clothes & gets ready to go home. She is home. The home she is talkin about is where she was born & raised. She tells us she has to take stuff home & bring stuff back. When we ask her what the stuff is, she gets upset. She says it's stuff she left at my gram's house. My gram passed away in 03 & her house was sold & there are people livin in it. We ,keep tellin her that. When we tell her, she thinks we all think she's crazy & gets upset with us. Other then wantin to go home, you can carry on a normal conversation with her. That's why I believe she's in the early stage of Dementia.
My question is,when she's confused, & tries to tell us somethin, should we continue to correct her nicely? This is a first for all of us. I understand it's only gunna get worse. Anyone dealin with a loved one that has any advise for us would be greatly appriciated.
pd2012
pd2012
Hello Minpin,

They always say that when a patient is confused to not correct them. It only causes increased frustration. The one thing you could try is redirecting the conversation. Sometimes changing the subject and get them involved with something less stressful to them.

It's not an easy road. Has she been seen by her doctor for a full medical evaluation to determine what stage of dementia/what type she is suffering from?
pd2012
pd2012
I would also add that the family should if you haven't done so already is to get all of her financial and medical proxies in place now. It'll alleviate a lot of family stress in the future.
annettearizona
annettearizona
Have you had your mother seen by an neurologist? And I wouldn't bother to correct her-just come up with other excuses not to "take her home" perhaps go to another place or even just for a walk
minpinluvr65
minpinluvr65
Thanks for the replies. It's hard not to correct her. We try to be respectful when doin so. I have to talk to my dad cuz I agree, we have to get her to her doctor whether she wants to or not. I can hear her now, you all think I'm crazy. We could always tell her she needs a physical. I know for a fact, that as long as my dad can help her, he won't put her in a nursing home. I miss my mom.
modernmaturity
modernmaturity
The only options aren't home or nursing home. There are a lot of supports for elderly remaining in their home (but not their old home that has been sold already!) such as home visits, adult day care, adult exercise classes, etc. I recently visited our senior center with my spouse who has an early-stage parkinsonism (tremor, cognitive issues), and was pleasantly surprised by the warm and welcoming atmosphere and with the range of services (most on a token or sliding scale fee).

I agree with don't confront or correct, just redirect.

Your father should get some education in this subject and should also get some time where he's not the caregiver (maybe you and any siblings could take over a day here and there).

Your mother should be seen by a gerontologist. This is not something I would leave to a GP or primary care doc to diagnose. There are various forms of dementia and they demand varying treatments. So far, my husband has seen both a gerontologist and a neurologist, and is not even completely diagnosed yet.

Good luck.