My 79-year-old mom was recently diagnosed with dementia. She picks at her skin constantly causing open sores. Any advice?

Try CBD oil. One drop under the tongue daily. It helped my DH aunt.

I think soft cotton gloves with velcro straps around the wrist - to keep them in place and prevent removal - could help. I have several pairs of snug-fitting thin cotton gloves I wear at night over lotion/vaseline on my hands. They fit well enough to use my fingers, but I wouldn't be able to scratch with my nails.

They'd prevent the behavior, and hopefully your mother won't mind them too much.

Repeated skin picking o excoriation disorder may exist in ADHD, depressive disorder, Anxiety disorder, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and other dementias. Unfortunately there is no cure for it. Some meds like the SSRI's may bring some relief. For old people with dementia, the most practical measure is to keep the nails short and to cover the exposed skin with a thick pad. As a rule is better not to use psychotropic medicines to patients with dementia, because they can make them worse. SSRI's perhaps could be tried as long as there are no contraindications.

Cut her fingernails very short if you haven't already.

When dementia is at play, reminding mom not to do something is a waste of breath. She won't remember what you said and/or her compulsion to pick at her skin will override it anyway. This is an issue that happens with dementia patients often. My aunt with Alzheimer's picked at the sides of her scalp to the point where she lost all of her hair in the spots she picked at.

You can try buying your mother a fidget blanket to keep her hands occupied:

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=alzheimers+fidget+blanket+for+adults&crid=KXYNZ4JYBI9B&sprefix=alzheimers+fid%2Caps%2C116&ref=nb_sb_ss_retrain-deeppltr_2_14

You can try putting Alzheimers mitts/gloves on mom's hands:

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=alzheimers+gloves&crid=1DVYJSE6HTZCR&sprefix=alzheimers+gloves%2Caps%2C107&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

You can speak to her doctor about anti anxiety meds which may curb her OCD type desire TO pick in the first place.

Wishing you the best of luck with a difficult situation.

Here is an article from AgingCare

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.agingcare.com/articles/amp/186225