Help! My mom is 71 years old and recently diagnosed with Parkinson's. She lived in the basement of a house she shared with her twin sister. We knew the stairs to the basement were unacceptable since she's already struggling to walk. We moved her into a senior community a block away. Her twin moved to the apartment below her. I'm not sure if it's from the move or her diagnosis, but she will NOT be alone!! Not even for 1 hour. I drop her off at home and before u get to my car she's asking to come back to my house. She won't do anything for herself, even though I think she's capable. She wanted to come over today after spending the week with me, I told her I need a day with my hubby. She freaked out, screaming and crying!! Then when I calmed her down she called my sister, who couldn't pick her up immediately. She again FLIPPED OUT. She even called me claiming she was outside and was attacked by a man. After further questioning, I knew this not to be true. She called the police any way. Is this the disease? Manipulation? Has anyone else dealt with this?? HELP!
PDD and LBD progress in different ways than ALZ does. Most general dementia descriptions are based on ALZ, so some of what you read will not match the behavior of a person with PDD or LBD.
Delusions and visual hallucinations occur early in PDD or LBD. I wonder if your mom is seeing things that frighten her? Has she mentioned anything that might indicate that? Delusions are false beliefs. What does she believe will happen to her if she is left alone? I wonder if she "saw" her "attacker"? Did she describe him? I heard this story at an LBD conference: Man checks into motel with wife. A little later wife runs into the office saying a strange man is in her room. She is terrified. Clerk calls police and asks where her husband is. She is confused. Husband? Why would her husband be here? A little later the officer comes into the office with a man and says, "Ma'am, look who I found -- your husabnd!" She runs into his arms and is very grateful that she is not in danger. She had early stage LBD and temporarily believed her husband to be a stranger. It is a good thing the officer was willing to test out the man's explanation, and that his wife recognized him by then!
What kinds of things do you believe that your mother can do that she insists she needs help with?
Does your mother have sleep disturbances?
I am so glad you are scheduled with a doctor soon. Be as detailed as you can be in your description of her behavior.
I agree with cdnreader that your mother may need a facility with some care, not just independent living.
Again report this to her doctor as a change in her behaviour. I am so sorry that you have this to deal with and sorry that your mum is going through this. I know it is very overwhelming
Please be sure to look after you as you go through this. Caregiving, even not hands on, is very stressful.
Very good point about a UTI, Barb. Mother never had one so I don't think of it.
If she needed a dilation, she may have had urine backing up and that could cause a bladder infection. Please have him explain what he did and what the result of the urinalysis was.
Get her checked.
Golden, I'm feeling that way now, not sure what is her demands or The disease. It's been so scary seeing her go thru this. I just wasn't sure if her outbursts were normal. And she will call and call and call and call.. I had 4 call in 1 minute tonight. (I was getting my laundry)
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