My dad is 93 and has dementia. My husband is his full time caretaker. We have grown accustomed to the tissue hoarding aspect of this disease, but is anyone else experiencing their loved one drinking from a water bottle for a sip or two and then pouring the bottle out either on the ground or in his lap. At dinner he has taken his glass of water poured it into the floor. Always denies doing it. Is this his own quirk, or have you also experienced it?
Isn't it amazing what strange behaviors dementia can trigger? There probably is a "logical" reason behind this, but you may never discover it.
My husband had a quirk of taking a special extension off of his bed lamp. The extension provided an easy way to turn the light on and off. One day I caught him in the act, so to speak.
me: "Honey, I thought you liked that new way to turn on your lamp."
him: "Oh yes. I love it! I don't have to reach up into the shade any more. It is great."
me: "Hmm ... well then, why are you taking it off the lamp?"
him: "Didn't you tell me you bought it?"
me: "Yes. I bought it at the hardware store."
him: "Well, if it belongs to us I'm certainly not going to leave it behind when we check out of this hotel."
See, a perfectly logical reason, given his delusion we were in a hotel. I'll bet your dad has a good reason, too.
I have no suggestions but lots of sympathy.
Hugs!
If it happens with other liquids you may need to thicken thinner fluids. Water, tea, coffee, juice and soda. There are several products that will do this and they do not change the taste of the liquid just the viscosity.
If he is not having problems with other liquids and this is just something he does try getting a cup with a lid and straw. The lid screws on and has a gasket on the inside part of the lid so it will not drip out.
Also another possibility..if he is having dental problems it might be the temperature of the liquid bothers his teeth and he may be having a bit of pain when he drinks so getting rid of the thing that causes pain makes sense.