Hi I posted a few days ago about my mom, who is in a CH, said she had things taken from her room. Well after a search of her room I found she had hidden these things in her zimmer frame wrapped in masses of tissue paper and then forgot she had even had them and seemed very confused as to how & why they had returned!! I have no experience of old age and my mother's forgetfulness is very disturbing. Could this be the onset of dementia or is it just forgetfulness & confusion in old age?
https://www.guardiancarers.co.uk/care-news/a-safer-home
To make a very long story short, she eventually saw a geriatric psychiatrist who strongly recommended a complete neurocognitive evaluation ( think 3 hours of testing). This showed no appreciable loss of memory, but that her ability to reason was completely gone. She had the reasoning abilities of a 5 year old! So, her anxiety was pretty understandable.
She was diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment. It was discovered that she'd had a stroke at some point in the past.
She did fine in an Independent Living Facility which provided all her meals, transportation and activities. The socialization was VERY good for her.
She has had many falls which have caused her many hematomas in her legs. She has had a couple of UTI's for which she had antibiotics prescribed, the CH test regularly for this. They have done a memory test but not the full dementia test as they say she dosen't show any signs, its just forgetfulness, for which I disagree. I have asked for her to be tested. Once again many thanks, will no doubt need your helpful advise again as this is such an eye opener for me.
Our mom has dementia, she accuses the staff of taking things, everything is always found. My dad couldn't find his cane, we found it pushed way under her bed and how she got down or up from the floor or what she used to push it under there is such a mystery to everyone, she has assistance going to the bathroom, getting dressed and in and out of bed. HaHa, maybe a moment where she actually felt like a little girl and pulled of something amazing.
not glad shes hiding stuff. but glad its not the CH stealing
I had to google zimmer frame. I didn't know what that was. how did you ever think to look there?
its hard when your parent tells you one thing...you want to believe. but ive learned with my mom. I cant rely on her word alone. :(
Sigh.
This is not usually a permanent feature of dementia. Some people do retain paranoia throughout the disease. For others that particular symptom fades away, showing only when they are sick or overtired.
Is this by itself proof that she has dementia? No. But it is suggestive, and is definitely something to discuss with her doctor.
I am so glad that I learned from this site about the symptoms of UTI in the elderly. I had really weird symptoms with a UTI myself recently. I wasn't surprised at the diagnosis. The young PA who tested me was absolutely amazed that the entire list of symptoms went away when the infection was treated! (I don't have dementia.) I guess AgingCare indirectly taught him something he hadn't learned or hadn't understood from his training!
My mother had dementia and a UTI made her confusion much worse. (She didn't hide things, though. I don't think she had enough comprehension at that point to do something that planful.) When the UTI was treated, the dementia symptoms went back to her before-UTI baseline.
I hope you'll keep us updated about your mother's behavior. We learn from each other. And besides, we care!
A raging UTI finally led to testing and the diagnoses of dementia. But, having said that, not every Senior Citizen who acts “odd” is suffering from dementia. The only way to find out for sure is to have her tested, like my mom.
Don’t panic. One day at a time, one foot in front of the other. There will be “behaviors”, but take them as they come. Enjoy the good days and let them help you handle the bad ones.
Sometimes, when elders have Urinary Tract Infections, the only symptom they show is increased confusion; I didn't know this when I first come on this board and it is one of the single most useful pieces of information I ever got! Get mom tested for a UTI, just for starts.