My Mom has dementia or Alzh...not sure of the diagnosis yet, as Im waiting for Medicaide paperwork and an evaluation. I go by everyday and feed her and check on her. She no longer knows who i am and today as I was sitting and talking to her she started using several words, in complete sentences, that dont exist!! that went on for over an hour. She was speaking cleary, but there are NO SUCH WORDS!! She also speaks of all the ppl that are in her apt and there is no one there....last night she left me a phone msg saying "Patty did not come home from school and its dark and cold out!! ...Im Patty and Im 52 yrs old...but yesterday she called my son and he told me "GrandMa is fine...she said shes mad because you sold her car...that was over a yr ago...and she sounds totally normal"...i KNOW that she cannot or should not be alone...im working on that ....but has anybody heard of the words? its not like she was making them up...they were just coming out of her mouth!!....bizarre!!
one seemed to get- in the begining, mom knew what she was trying to say- but the words were coming out different .
connections not connecting-
i emailed teepa and she was gracious enough to email me back- she answered so many questions- i love her!
i was the only one who could understand or get the gist of what mom was trying to say-
thats why it breaks my heart that my bro took her away and put her in a nh 4 hours away from me and her friends- she was so verbal- a teacher,artist,therapist,and more- i know she has had a hard time up there-
i used to get these ridiculous reports from my bro and the nh that she was doing fine- getting her hair and nails done-which she never did because she was allergic to s many things-that she was getting along- not complaining-not aggressive- but i have been with mom and this disease the last 12 yrs. and i knew better- i was told how wrong i was and i was too "anal" about what was happening at the nh, that i asked too many questions- it was a mess- still is, it wasnt until last week-,shes been there almost 2 yrs,that finally i was told-oh yes she is combative and abusive-DUH! oh course- stupid idiots- i am so mad at mybrother - he doesnt get it-she is so medicated, by now so much damage has been done- between the disease and the anti psychotics-all i can do is be there when i can-i have my own health issues-and its an 8 hr = round trip visit-
i cry, and i try to work on what i have allowed in -that has taken it toll physically and i am working on -trying to let go- not an easy thing -
i dont know if i am saying this clearly- but thank god i found this site- you guys are wonderful and been so helpful for many years-even if u hear the same complains and frustrations over and over- at least i know i am understood and all my work is recognized-taking care of her for so long-and that i am worth a great deal more than the disrespect i get from bro -the only family left for me-
oh well.-i got a bit sidetracked eh?
love u guys-
k
Lol, I'm going to venture a guess that I'll know the answers to those questions after I look up "Teepa Snow" and start my research.
I suggest that you don't try to argue with her or talk her out of these people being there. If she is not disturbed by them, just go along with it. If she is afraid of them or in distress over this, try to get over there and comfort her, and sternly insist that those people leave right now! I am glad that you are working on having her not live alone.
Your mother must have been very distressed when she thought her young daughter had not come home form school. In her mind it was obviously 40 years ago or more. It is best not to argue and try to convince her that Patty is all grown up and that you are Patty. Instead try to reassure her and calm her down. Tell her that you know Patty is staying with a girlfriend overnight.
I think this MIGHT get a little easier for you once you get an evaluation and have a little better idea of what you are dealing with. Then you can begin educating yourself on ways of caring for her. Your mother obviously has some kind of dementia, and it sounds like the kind might be Alzheimer's, but the evaluation may be able to confirm that or suggest a different kind. (My husband had Lewy Body Dementia. There are approximately 50 different kinds. Alzheimer's is the most common.)
My heart goes out to you.
From others, I understand that this can occur at any point in the progression. It may occur repeatedly or seldom.
I'm afraid that isn't very helpful, but it at least tells you that you are not alone.