My mother has dementia and Alzheimer's. She becomes combative or anxious in the late afternoon and thru the early evening. Sometimes she has nightmares. She is on an anti anxiety and anti depressant. Is there something caregivers can do to comfort her or keep her from going to that dark place?
She is living in an assisted living situation and is 87.
I believe my mom has developed OCD also. The ups and downs are so vicious, and the anxiety causes her more physical harm. She gets worked up over the littlest thing. I told her she can't open her bills because she gets anxious. Any disappointment becomes major. I'm in damage control mode now.
Because my mother improved greatly after taking her off some of her medications, I have come to believe that a lot of medications that are supposed to be helping their situations actually cause more problems. Use their "Drug Interactions Checker" to find out if some of your mother's medications are not mixing well and also check with her doctor to see if there are some medications that can cause the anxiousness. I'm a believer in removing medications when possible, rather than adding new ones all the time.
I'll say a prayer that things will improve for you and your mom!! God Bless!