How can I help Mom find the toilet?

The anxious, constant motion seemed to be a phase with my loved one. She went through that, but it did stop for the most part. I'm not sure if it was the Cymbalta that caused it to stop or it just happened around the same time. I know it really cut down her anxiety. I know that some patients are given Seroquel at night as well in small doses. I don't know much about that one though.

Thx! We see a geriatric psychiatrist Thursday. I'll add that drug to my list of questions. It is exactly that anxious, constant motion that is getting all of us down - including my Mom.

Our doctor prescribed mirtazapine for my mom when she was anxious and awake through the night, it may be that there is a medication that could help your mom sleep? My mom can't get up on her own, although that is challenging I think I have an advantage over all of you whose loved ones wander, at least she stays where I put her! Yes, now I often have to do laundry in the morning, but I hadn't realized how draining the lack of sleep was until I actually was able to sleep through the night... bliss!

We bought the Levana Jena cameras a while ago. 2 monitors and 4 cameras. They do help a lot. I get up til around 2 am them I unplug the bed alarm and sleep. My alarm goes off at 5:30. Then my husband takes over until I get back from work. Anyway, Mom can get up 10 times a night. She isn't drinking enough to warrant all these trips to the bathroom but she still goes. We're going to ask the doctor what could be going on. The extra commode idea mostly failed. She used them 1 time. 4 other times she didn't. One of those trips she moved 2 commodes to use the floor. You gotta love her persistence! :-)

If she doesn't get up too often during the night you might want to get a baby monitor so you can hear when she gets up, or place it outside her room so you will hear if she heads the wrong direction. It may be worth the loss of sleep to be able to get up without there being any nasty surprises.

Mom has dementia. She also has epilepsy. I was just told of an experience where this might be related. My husband and I give her 24/7 care. But we do need some sleep. That's when we don't always accompany her. I brought home 2 more commodes today. I'll post if they are helpful. Thanks to everyone on this blog. I learn a lot from your collective experiences and feel better knowing we are not alone in this struggle.

With dementia, the thing in the brain that isn't working right manifest itself in odd ways. Just because she may anticipate that she has to use the bathroom, that doesn't mean she knows how to get to the toilet. Even if you draw arrows, make notes, etc. It doesn't seem to be registering. There's not much you can do except supervise her.

I would suggest that you take her to the bathroom and sit her there at her normal times or a schedule that you set up. They do this for my cousin in Memory Care and it works pretty well, although, she still has accidents.

If the clean up is becoming unmanageable, you might consider getting your mom an adult onsie that buttons in the back and doesn't allow them to take it off by themselves. Maybe that could control her going on the floor until you can get to her and supervise her bathroom visit.

Has your mom moved recently, is that part of the problem? How is it that she is able to use inappropriate areas as a toilet, is she living on her own?

Certainly have the pathway and bathroom well lit or provide a bedside commode at night. I wouldn't place anything on the floor as a barrier, that could contribute to a fall.

The simplest solution is to take her there yourself. You might want to consider a toileting schedule during the day, take her to the bathroom at regular intervals so she will be less apt to try to go on her own.