Any suggestions on sleep walking and hiding things?

My concern is, where to look for items or/meds you've have hidden? For instance, this morning I notice a large jar of noodles is missing. I realize this sounds funny yet, it really isn't. Please help!

Did you consider you are not able to care for her, and it would be harmful for her to continue without the proper care?

Cameras are great. I have them and can press a button and talk to my mom. As I leave her alone when walking the dog as well. You can also check on caretakers as well

to alexander4: my father (now in nursing home) has dementia/alzheimers too. in the last several months before going into NH he would also hide stuff, in fact, items that were considered important, would now be taken out of safe and put anywhere all over the house, I found money in the bathroom cabinet, 2 days later it was gone, found a pair of tongs down in a side dresser in bedroom, in the very back covered up with something else. I think in their minds, they have to put something somewhere that they think is safe, but then when reality kicks in they are fussing because they can't find something. my mother bought 4 sets of electric razors cause they would just disappear. guess what, we found them all when we had to go thru the house looking for important paperwork to provide to the NH.........not sure there is a solution, other than putting up some type of in-home camera in each room to see what is happening. good luck....

I have been on the AZ and Dementia site up until now, but think this one on sleep disorders may help. Husband has Lewy Body Dementia. He has been flailing his arms, kicking, twitching, shouting out, and falling out of bed for about three years. A few times he has hit me in the face, or grabbed me so hard it left bruises. I found an antidepressant (Dr. prescribed) that seems to help a lot. Now I have something new! Last week I lost my new sunglasses. I went all over town retracing my steps. Just today I found my glasses in our spare room safely tucked into a little cabinet. He must have put them there the night he got up from our bed, went in to the spare bed, then back to our bed, and he didn't recall doing any of it. I'm afraid this is the beginning of a new problem. Any ideas?

Good lord, kathy, how do you get any sleep? Considering moving mom to an NH?

thank you all for the replies and you are both right on the money. She is anxious all the time starts in the morning as soon as her feet hit the floor and intensifies as the day goes on. My dog alerts me when she is up during the night and I stand in the shadow just to make sure she won't fall down or injure herself. We have talked about getting the cards made up when we go out to eat, she enjoys that and we don't want it to stop but she is very picky and complains about everything, she always has. Thanks again for the great tips and suggestions.

Kathyy1,
It sounds like you really have your hands full. Much of what you describe is not really unusual behavior for a dementia patient, though. That's what they do, due to the brain damage.

I wonder if you are expecting her to act better and not have symptoms over time. Normally, over time it gets worse and not better and there really aren't anyways to change them for the better.

Sometimes, as their condition progresses, it's not feasible to take them to certain places. She may not handle bright lights and strangers very well. Things are different and they tolerate things differently. I describe it as caring for a temperamental toddler. There will likely be temper tantrums, acting rude in public or crying for no reason. Odd behavior is not odd behavior in the world of dementia. It's common behavior.

Of course, it does sound as if she is anxious. I would work with a psychiatrist to get her established on a good daily med that should help her anxiety and one that may help her sleeping issue too. I would also add that she should NEVER have access to any of those meds. It's like allowing a toddler to have their own meds. The same goes for things like aspirin and cleaning supplies. They can ingest harmful things, even though you don't think it's likely. That's why things are locked away in Dementia Units. No matter how much she complains, you can't allow a dementia patient to endanger themselves. You have to look past the complaints and accusations and protect her. Her contentions have to be tolerated.

Some people have alarms on the bed that alarms when she gets up, but you may be up all night with her. Unless the meds work, you'll get little sleep, so you may consider hiring a person to watch her at night.

Hiding things is common and I don't know any remedy for that. In Dementia Units, they lock most belongings away so they cannot be hidden.

a friend of mine when they took their mother out to a restaurant and she would act up. she had little index cards printed on them that they had dementia/alzheimers and to please excuse her outbursts. she would hand them out to whomever her mother had bothered (without telling her mother). that way it didn't cause a scene for her mother to be embarrassed. But it sounds like some meds are not working very well. and my father hid stuff everywhere. one day I found money in the medicine cabinet, but 2 days later it was gone. one time there was money in each pocket of his shirts hanging in closet......2 days later...all gone. its goes with the disease. wishing you luck.

Get her to a psychiatrist stat!

Wait a minute-how could she order pancakes at the doctor's?

It does sound like your mom needs more care than what you can handle at home. For her sake and yours, please start looking for the right place for her. Until then, you could hand people a card explaining that she has Alzheimer's so you wouldn't have to say anything out loud. I'm so sorry for your situation, as my mom is probably just a few feet behind yours. Take care of yourself!

You name it , i have experienced it with mum, Dementia, parkinsons , sleepwalking, agro, hiding stuff, sleepwalking..cops!!.firstly tell her doctors everything!!
Ask for a letter/s from all doctors or the main doctors for her conditions! And if they do not know!! Get her tested!
Also tell the doctors everything!
I used to ring mums shrink & General practitioner & go & see mums general practitioner sometimes on my own and tell him everything & he would help me with mum ...
When shes outof control ring ambulance as she will expose her behaviour infront of hospital staff, doctors & you must get the release papers from hospital & all the medical reports & backtrack & get the archive reports from hospital!That way you can show cops and eventually they are onto her!! As for sleepwalking well get inside locks as my mum used to walk up to the balcony & try jump it! Its low & she used to leave the house via jumping the balcony before!
They are who they are!!
And my mum has dementia and simultaneously her meds have fried her brains & she too refuses antidepressants. and if you can think it ! My mum has done it!! They all elderly people need to be in a nursing home when they are out of control! Try to get as much community or home care as possible ! Thats not an option anymore cause at some point she must go into a nursing home ! For your safety & for hers & to also to get your life back! Ring an ambulance when crazy things happen cause the hospital doctors will know what to do so too will the social worker at the hospital!
They will help!
But uou gotta start telling people everything about her!
Also speak to the local police & give them the doctors letters & soon that will stop cause they will know shes mentally not well!!

Remind me why she's not in a facility with a geriatric psychiatrist close at hand and professional staff who can administer and monitor her meds and her behavior.

Medication is the only way, I'm sorry but it is. Ask the Dr to change it, explain what she is doing, or they may increase it. Try to take her to a Geriatric Psychiatrist. No railings on her bed, it could be harmful. She could get twisted up in the rails and choke, or try to climb over and fall. I am sorry about your mother.

Sleepwalking is very dangerous for her. She should be on a low dose sleeping pill like temazapan. And railings on her bed. A monitor might hel as well.