About 6:30 in the evening, mother starts wanting to lock up the house, pull the garage door down, close the drapes. About 8:00pm, while we are watching TV, she starts in on the time...what time is it? And, are we ready to eat our ice cream. This goes on until 9:00pm. Then, we'll eat our ice cream and she'll go to bed...after she asks us are we ready for bed yet or are we staying up to watch this movie. I tell her our bedtime is 10:00. She goes on to bed. During all this time, she is worrying about the lighting in the room. She ends up having all the lights turned on. Her eye sight is poor, so she has to have on a lot of lights.
And, tonight, our daughter got to see some of her obsession in action. My husband and I ran to Walmart and my daughter stayed with mother. She said mother kept asking her to call us. Our daughter would tell her not yet. Then, she'd ask where I was and when was I coming home. She said this went on every few minutes. I actually called home twice in the two hours I was gone because I knew mother would be about to run our daughter nuts with questions.
She is getting worse about her obsessions. Is this dementia or sundowning? Is there anything I can do about it? Thank you.
When you are going out, write a note of what time you left, what time you will be home and your phone number.
Part of the anxiety is losing control, so whenever you write a note, ask her if there is anything else that needs to be written. You may get some interesting answers.
And, yes, I have found with my father that all kinds of cognitive changes are occurring, including "psychiatric" behavioral changes. In other words, it's not just memory problems we're seeing with him. We are also seeing a dramatic change in his personality. I have found good help from his doctors, and I hope you do too. Good luck.
Be prepared, because this will get worse. The doctor can prescribe meds to help, but they can take only so much without being able to function. I'm sorry you are having to go through this, but it is a very real part of the disease. Keep coming here to talk about it. Most of us are going through it too. Good luck!
Best to you and your family,
Hap
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