Recently my mother has been having episodes where she thinks my father is someone else but the other people she thinks he is have the same name as him to her. This is the only weird symptom I have seen from her. She remembers everyone else and is also bringing up things from the past. Even stuff from 50 years back. Just wondering if anyone else have experienced this. We can't get her into a neurologist until the end of July. Just want to know how I can help her.
My 94 1/2 yr. old mom only has one kid-me. She knows the name of her daughter, "Susan" (me), but thinks she stole her medication and moved to South America (?) (We're from San Francisco).
When I come to visit at the memory care facility, she'll say, "Don't I know you? Isn't your name Susan? Aren't you my daughter?" I reply "yes". In 2 minutes she'll say, "Do you know my daughter? She hates me and I don't like her either. She's so mean and nasty to me. But you're so nice and you look lovely today."
She can't separate reality from fiction. This is very confusing but I just play along with it. I like being the 'nice' one (for a change!). I'll take the compliments, it's the first time in my life she's said anything complimentary to me!
They are in their own little world, one that makes no sense to us. Unfortunately, you can't reason with dementia. You could explain it a million times and it will NOT get through or register. There is no correcting this problem and fighting it will only agitate both of you.
I agree with the other posters, a trip to the doctor, to rule out a bladder infection, would be a good place to start. A UTI can bring on a good bit of confusion and is easily cured with antibiotics.
We had to have him moved to a memory care unit because it became non-managable. I think it may have gone better if my mom had not gotten so argumentative with him, which I think just confused and angered him more. But I understand there is only so much a person can take. My dad had been on Aricept and Namenda for several years but I think we had reached the point where the symptoms were outpacing the drugs.
Keep a watch over your dad. This thought pattern will take a toll on him. My mother will never be the same. It got ugly in their household for about a year (or more). I was truly concerned for their safety (both of them). A once loving couple, married for over 50 years, devolved to bickering and nastiness like I never imagined. I let it go for months hoping for the best and trying to be there for them but it eventually reached a crisis point for both, and I had to intervene and move my dad to a memory care facility earlier this year. He is doing better there, kinda blossoming. My mom now sits at home alone with regret and guilt for the way their relationship devolved. Luckily I don't think he remembers much of the recent past.
It's all part of the dementia journey. The best thing to do is go with the flow. I agree with 97 year old mom - don't argue or correct and learn as much as you can about the disease.