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My MIL is in the last stage of Alzheimer's and has many odd behaviors. But, one I just can't figure out is why after using the toilet and wiping herself she puts the soiled paper in the waste basket. Sometimes she will stuff it in an empty toilet paper roll before putting it in the waste basket. When I remind her where it goes and to put it in the toilet she is so confused that she will hold her hand with the paper in it behind the toilet and try to drop it there. It's as if she never knew to put the soiled paper in the toilet. Like I said, she has many, many, many odd behaviors, but this one is just one I cannot figure out where it came from.

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My mother with dementia throws her dirty urine soaked depends in the bathroom wastebasket, in the hamper and sometimes under the sink. Sometimes the depends have poo on them because she abuses suppositories. When she doesn't have them, she cuts up a bar of soap and shoves it into herself. I think the answer is - Alzheimers - they are no longer rational in what they do, and after they do it, they don't remember anyway. Mom hasn't washed in months except when she has "accidents" and then, only there. Again, its the Alzheimers, and until we can get her to AL, she is going to continue to do strange whings.
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My mom has vascular dementia and is in a nh. She needs to be cued each step of the way with toileting, including where to throw the paper. Her brain is broken.
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If she already had 20 sheets of paper in the bowl, she may have thought any more would clog the pipes. Just a guess.
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There is another problem for elders who are weak especially if they are obese. Rising off the toilet seat to wipe becomes very difficult so it may be done the "wrong way" that is back to front because they can no longer reach behind themselves. Having done that they sit there with a handful of soiled TP so what is more natural than to just drop it into a trash can or on the floor Soiled hands are then used to lift the tired body off the toilet and once on their feet it is too difficult to change the pull ups so they just pull them up as in earlier healthier times. A simple mixture of confusion and forgetfullness.
Book's dad is a prime example, he reverts to childish behaviour when he is not imediately changed. Curious infants explore everything and dirty diapers are no exception. Who had not had a todler proudly run to show his mommy what he just did in his potty with his pants around his ankles. Besides no one has any idea of the habits of their elders before they need caregiving. Not making excuses just the way I see it. Who has not luxuriated in not getting dressed or taking a shower when they no longer have to work.
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Mother is 95. It was not unusual to not put TP in a toilet, if you were on a cistern or in her RV.
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This is very, very common with dementia and/or Alzheimers, unfortunately. It's one of the less pleasant aspects. My mom has always been very clean, showered every day (sometimes 2x a day), and made sure the house was always clean. God forbid anyone should forget to flush a toilet or leave something laying around in her clean house.

Fast forward to today, and she no longer realizes when she has soaked through her incontinence pad, her clothing and the protective chair pad. She goes into the bathroom to pee and forgets to wipe or flush, or to change her incontinence pad or underwear when they're wet (so I follow her to the bathroom every time now). When she has a BM, she often forgets to wipe or flush, which means her backside is not clean, and the toilet is left full of very unpleasant stuff. Yesterday, she remembered to wipe after her BM, but smeared it all over the side of the toilet and the trash can, because she put the toilet paper in the trash can instead of the toilet - and it's not the first time this has happened.

It's sad, but it's part of the process. Forgetting to put things where they belong (especially toilet paper after being used), is just one of the symptoms of advancing dementia or Alzheimers. For some reason, the toilet paper becomes a major issue for some of our older folks.
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This is not at all uncommon with people that come from third world countries, as for your MIL, she has Alzheimer's. There ceases to be any logic to why people do anything when they have this terribly cruel diseases.
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I agree with TxCamper and Patrice- my grandmother always put her TP in the trash, just the way she was raised. And when my family had a camper, we were told to put the TP in the trash there too, since TP would clog up that sewer system. Be happy your elder is wiping! :)
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So far, it's only at night when my father touches his poop. At least MIL is throwing the tissues in the basket. My dad stores used tissues under his front shirt. In the morning, if I smell poop, I know that he has touched it. He would wipe his poop from the from the front. I'd find the used tissues on the floor. Once, he tried to throw it the trashcan. Most times, he tries to hide it. With my gloves on, I carefully inspect that nicely folded washcloth on the floor, or beside him...most recently, that washcloth dangling neatly on the bed railing. He will categorically deny that he touched his poop. That's not poop, that's dirt. I'm just glad that he's not stuffing the poopy washcloth or poopy tissues under his front shirt with his other hoarded used tissues.
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Eyerishlass is right on the mark. She does this because she has dementia.

It hardly matters what twisted reasoning is behind this behavior. Line the wastebasket and take the bag out frequently. Please don't give the poor gal something else to be confused about. Be glad she is still toileting herself. Don't criticize the way she does it.
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My late grammom always put in basket because she told us you don't need to flush each time if just a little tinkle. Anything else she would put paper in toilet and flush. Sorry, but I had to laugh at this cause it just made me remember my sweet little Gram!
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Lots of people "go back in time" when they are in the last stages. In her childhood, she may have had an outhouse or even a "slop bucket" for use indoors. She may have been raised to put the paper in a wastebasket. Or, if she's lived where she was on septic instead of city sewer, she may have thought it best to not put the paper in the toilet. OR, a third scenario, maybe she was a "camper" or RVer and wouldn't put the paper in the chemical toilet.

I just wish my Loved One wouldn't use quite so much paper. We have dealt with clogged toilets, and have gotten into the habit of buying it by the case.

I'm surprised that someone in the last stage would still be toileting herself anyway. Be happy she is, and empty the wastebasket frequently and use a liner.
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My friend's mom did this, and after researching a bit I discovered that this strange quirk is not uncommon with dementia. At least it is in the trash, not the linen cupboard...
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"Why would MIl, who is in the last stages of Alzheimer's, wipe herself and then put the paper in the wastebasket?"

Because she's in the late stages of Alzheimer's.
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You are right. It is just sooooo sad.
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My mother would splash the dirty water in the toilet on her bottom instead of using toilet paper. None of this is pretty & none of is makes sense. She was a very neat smart business woman & it comes down to this. So sad.
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