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I Am a Caregiver

My great grandmother has dementia, she often feels the need to stand and then sit over and over again. She also wants us to ‘hurry’ for seemingly no reason. She says she feels fine, her vitals are what they should be and she’s as hydrated as she can be.
The nurses that come to our home don’t have anything to say about it.

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Pfuzylogic · M

With dementia her brain is physically “injured”. She seems to be going through a process similar to what we have in dreams. She is trying to resolve her anxiety.

Does she realize that she has dementia?
Has she been talked to about her condition?

GlitterBug · 22-25, F

She doesn’t remember anything past 2 minutes, and that’s if we’re lucky. So no, safe to assume she can’t remember. @Pfuzylogic

Pfuzylogic · M

@GlitterBug It seems she needs to have her mind kept busy.
Does she like Soletaire, card games, knitting?

GlitterBug · 22-25, F

None of that. She liked dancing but she’s not physically capable of it anymore. We try to get her to do things but she isn’t interested. She likes judge Judy though, we try to keep that on tv. @Pfuzylogic

Pfuzylogic · M

@GlitterBug does she like music then? She can tap her toes and sing or hum quietly. I am sure she has fond memories of her past. Maybe have items that might help her recall the good times.

uncalled4 · 56-60, M

@Pfuzylogic Music is a good idea. For some reason, that appears to be the last thing to go.

GlitterBug · 22-25, F

We’ve tried that but she usually asks us to turn it off, even the songs we know she used to enjoy. It’s frustrating at times, she’s not very happy but we don’t know how to help. She rejects everything we’ve tried. @Pfuzylogic

Pfuzylogic · M

@GlitterBug Then she must think that music distracts her from that important thing on her mind she just can’t remember.

Fernie · F

@GlitterBug Dementia is confusing and anxiety producing for many who suffer with it. I would guess noise like music would make her anxious as well. Why not just leave her be if she is healthy? She is not the same person she was so trying to make her be WILL frustrate you AND her.

GlitterBug · 22-25, F

We do for the most part. She gets bored though, all she does is sit in a chair all day. Can’t do much else. She will want to do something, just doesn’t know what. So we try different things when she asks. We don’t go out of our way to bother her. @Fernie