1) Spouse with moderate Alzheimer's loves to take rides. ONLY upon driving close to returning home, does she continually believe our home is just mine, or just hers, that her family is indeed living there (reverts to teenager age), gets very upset if I enter our home. This lasts for about one hour of torment, then recedes and is forgotten.
2) Spouse has constant "fetish-compulsion" with working unnecessarily on her hair while in bathroom...averages 4/6 hours daily. Any suggestions on either or both situations?
As for the hair thing, that's a symptoms of the Alzheimer's. Is she in danger while she's fixing her hair? Is she standing up when she shouldn't be? Does she tire easily while standing/sitting in front of the mirror? If she's not in any danger while fussing with her hair let her fuss. She wants to look nice. A lot of women spend a long time on their hair throughout their lives and maybe she's just going back to that behavior from before she had Alzheimer's. But if she is in danger while working on her hair try redirecting her. Tell her there's a great movie on tv or that it's time for lunch. Tell her she looks beautiful just the way she is.
Since you know that her confusion over the house is temporary, I wonder if it would work to just go along with. If she insists it is her house and her brothers are home, say, "Do you think it would be all right if I come in and get a drink of water?" You don't necessarily have to agree that it is her childhood home, but don't argue about it, either. Just figure out a way to get in it with her! How are you handling this now?
Having a spouse with dementia is very, very painful. If she still likes to drive around, that is wonderful. Get every pleasure out of it you can. There are many frustrating moments to endure. Celebrate all the moments that are still good, and try not to dwell on what you can't fix. Hugs to you!
There are so many side effects of so many medications...Aricept and Namenda are the two he takes for Alzheimers. It is possible that Namenda might be the reason? But without Namenda, the memory function will decrease more rapidly. Marymember
My husband, with Lewy Body Dementia, did not have headaches. I don't know if it is more common with Alzheimer's -- I'm sure someone here will know that. But I think it would be good to track his current activities and the headaches and also to think about what has changed since before the headaches started, and then discuss this with his doctor.