He did this yesterday at a friends house. He is 74 and is very amiable. Was diagnosed 4 years ago. He is in daycare 3 days a week and I am afraid he will start this behaviour there. Our shed roof is outside the bathroom window and I noticed it was covered in small balls of Used toilet paper. At my friend's house she found two dirty pieces of toilet paper under the toilet window in her trees. What can I do to alter this behaviour. This is the first time he has done it apart from home, as far as I am aware.
If he has periods of greater comprehension you might try explaining the proper use of toilet paper to him then. You might even find out why he is doing this, which could help with a solution -- but I wouldn't count on that. After you've explained this, perhaps a few times, lock the bathroom window and put up a sign "Toilet Paper Goes in the Toilet" to help him remember. Sometimes a simple phrase repeated often can help in the "retraining" process. (The mantra in our house was about hearing aids and it was "In the ears or in the box!") If this isn't enough, at home you can nail the window shut.
Do ask at the day program whether he has any disruptive behaviors. Generally those bathrooms don't have windows, but there may be some other variation on this issue. If necessary they can have someone accompany him to the bathroom.
When you are visiting friends, accompany your husband to the bathroom on each trip, so you can personally and gently remind him that "Toilet paper goes in the toilet."
Going out I would (and did) try as much as possible to find a unisex or family restroom and accompany him. For places that did not have this option but had a single stall arrangement I went in with my husband either in the men's or women's. For multiple stall arrangements, I took him into the women's room, since each stall has a door. I'd stick my head in and announce "bringing in my handicapped husband." I never had a problem.
This is annoying and unacceptable behavior, of course. It may be the first of many or it may be an isolated quirk. I hope you can deal with it gently and without hurting his dignity, but also in a way that is respectful of other people.
Thinking about the odd things my husband did over the ten years of his dementia journey, I can't think of any that lasted the duration. Usually they lasted at most a few months. None of them seemed to be an indicator that worse things were on the way. You just have to be very observant and treat each behavior as it arises. And do let his doctor know what is going on.
Hugs to you, Tommy. Your husband is lucky to have someone searching for how best to handle his disease.