My cousin, 63 year old, with Vascular Dementia mixed with AD, has recently started getting emotional. She's in a Memory Care Unit at ALF. I asked what's wrong and she says she misses her mom or her parents. Her dad died in the early 90's and her mom died 7 years ago. She has never shown much emotion about it, but now she mentions it a lot.
She has quite a few health issues and am concerned about that. I wonder if this recent emotional display over her parents have any special significance. I'm planning on getting her to a geriatric psychiatrist soon, but have to get her other medical issues resolved first..
Then in the doctor office on Thursday, she got emotional suddenly, and told me she missed her parents.
During the visit, she mentioned several times how much she missed her parents. She said every time she goes to a certain place, it reminds her of them. I'm not sure which place she's referring to, but we just told her we missed them too.
She's happy in her Memory Care Unit and says there is a certain staff member who watches over her. She says he's like her guardian angel. I know who she's taking about and that he is keeping a special look out for her.
Physically, she hasn't looked better in years. It's just heartbreaking.
I had my mother go to a geriatric psychologist for a general work-up to get a baseline of her functioning skills, etc. as I did not know if her memory loss was normal for her age or if it was more significant. I found it extremely helpful. You could start with that when you have the other medical issues checked out/maintained, etc. as you mentioned. No, I don't believe you caused any undue distress or there is any correlation to distress and more severe dementia patients. Those individuals who have dementia fade in and out of memory and get time (past/present mixed up). Perhaps her parents are just on her mind, but in time this will be forgotten and your cousin will gravitate to other thoughts. I do know that dementia patients tend to fixate on certain thoughts so this could be one of them at the moment. You can listen, reassure, alter the topic, etc. to offer comfort. Don't take anything personally. People with dementia do not have the capability to logically think and reason. My mother, 87 years old, and has dementia and paranoia has huge mood swings. That is another thing the geriatric psychologist could help with. I don't know what medicines your cousin is taking, but the specialist would recommend medicines to help the overall situation. Thank you for caring about your cousin. Take care.
What can a psychiatrist do for someone in her situation unless the drugs given to her are causing the problems?
I come from a family that to the outside world was cold and unemotional.The truth was quite the contrary and the only difference between us and others was that we kept our sorrows, pain and anger private, to deal with in our good time.
Maybe she just needs a good cry and someone to sit with their arm around her shoulder.
Sadness is not a disease it's a coping mechanism.