My mom has dementia and some other health issues, and over period of time things have just got worse and worse. She is extremely forgetful, and I have to repeat myself all the time. Are their any technicques I could use to not have to repeat the same thing over and over or explainining the same thing. Sometimes it just doesn't seem to matter what I do She isn't listening or just doesn't get it. It is so very frustrating so any ideas or tips would be great.
Another problem I have with my mom sometimes is she is always wantiing to make doctors appts. and then she calls them multiple times as well cause she doesn't write time or date down. How can I get on a routine for Drs appts? I would take her like every few months for check up, but she honestly has a new medical complaint every other day. Could it just all be in her mind? I have never seen anyone with so many different medical issues, all the time.
How frustrating it all can be sometimes, but I do relize that you have to step back from things and get fresh air. It will be a new day, maybe new drama and issues, but a new day, none the less!! KellyB:))
As far as repeating everything just go with it. For my sanity, I keep my replies short and sweet. Yes,No, Maybe, I don't know was answers for a lot of things. I would even cut her off mid sentence with one the those answers. I knew what she was going to say before she finished. One bad days, I found that redirecting the conversations helped. I learned to tune mom out when she started telling her "stories". I would say "Oh yeah" periodically so she thought I was listening. I'd even throw in a chuckle once in a while. All the while I was going about my business. I guess I have learned how to be a man in the listening department. My husband says I have mastered the one-sided conversation.LOL!!
Don't let her get to you. LAUGHTER is the best cure when you think your going insane.
I have thought occasionally about yanking the phone out of the wall. She calls doctors to make appointments. She also calls the drugstore to get things I don't want her to have. And perhaps the worst -- she calls doctors to cancel appointments, then forgets. So we show up at the doctor's office after the appointment was cancelled.
The phone is her line to the world, so I can't take it away. I know someday soon she won't be able to use it much. So I clench my teeth, then take a deep breath and hope I can be sweet instead of mean.
In the case of long term stuff, when she needs to know when her appointments are or my schedule for the week, I found a large print daily planner online and that's where we write information where I get the same questions over and over, again, for a week or more if we didn't do this. It's cut down on some of the questions.
What helps me, too, is that I'm not the only caregiver so I don't have to deal with this issue 24/7. I finally hired help since I have no help in town from family. It's all cut down on my "walk in front of a bus" moments that I think we all experience from time to time.
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