When a Person with Dementia Insists There’s a Stranger in the Room
Dear Carol: Lately, my mom who lives with Alzheimer’s has become terrified of going into my bedroom. She has her own room, but I have a larger closet, so I like to take her to mine to get her dressed. This is puzzling, but I can work with it. A bigger problem is that she also backs away from the bathroom. I use a commode for her in her room along with incontinence pull-ups, but we need the bathroom for showers. I warm up the bathroom and put her in a cozy robe, but when we step through the door she freezes up, saying there’s a stranger in there. I work from home and my time’s limited, so I’m using you as a shortcut. Thoughts? – AM
Dear AM: This is tough, I know, and due to her dementia, there are several possible reasons for her fear. A common reason is mirrors. Why? Likely, your mom’s dementia has progressed to the point…
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Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories. “For anyone having to walk the last segments of life with a loved one, read this.” …Delores
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