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I’m a newbie, but this is what I’ve learned so far: It depends on how your loved one responds to different tactics and how much tolerance you have at the moment.
You can try diversion if you have the patience and the time.
You can try humor if you’re the creative type.
You can ignore them and they might stop asking….or they might keep at it all day. (Then again, they might keep at it all day even if you do answer.)
Or they might get angry regardless of what your answer is or how many times you give it.
Or they might get wiley and ask the same question 17 different ways (which is the most fun but can build up hope that maybe some of the cylinders are still firing).
I guess what I’m trying to say is I’ve tried them all and the responses have changed from day to day - sometimes from hour to hour. Today my husband had been in ‘anger response mode’ so I ran away and went grocery shopping for an hour; a luxury not everyone has, I know. When I got back he was in ‘wiley mode’ but I felt refreshed enough by my temporary escape that I was able to divert. It feels weird to do that in the beginning, like saying “ooh look, a squirrel!” to a dog, but it gets easier when you realize it’s easier for them as well.
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Reply to Peasuep
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No, I don't do it. I may answer once, but afterwards I'm like um hum or non responsive. I've had clients tell me the same stories from forty years ago but couldn't remember something ten minutes ago. I listen patiently to the same stories everyday. The short term memory is shot. This is the nature of the dementia beast.

Finally, the behavior stops when I stop giving enough attention to it.
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Reply to Scampie1
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No. You do not answer the same question over and over all day long. You will go insane and doing this will help create the perfect conditions for caregiver abuse.

When someone is in a dementia loop and repeating continually, you attempt to redirect them or ignore them. This is the only way to break a person out of the dementia repeating loop.

When the asking the same question over and over, you answer once or twice then you stop and refuse to discuss the matter any further.

Look into memory care placement or homecare for your loved one. No one should do it alone.
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Reply to BurntCaregiver
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You don't have to give the same answer every time. Keep it interesting.
"What is this?" (Holds up new soup ladle.)
"That's our new soup ladle."
"What is this?" (Holds up new soup ladle.)
"That's a spoon for the soup."
"What is this?" (Holds up new soup ladle.)
"That's for dipping fish out of the tank." (We don't have fish or a tank.)
"What is this?" (Holds up new soup ladle.)
"That's an art object."
"What is this?" (Holds up new soup ladle.)
"I don't know." (By this time, I don't.)
"What is this?" (Holds up new soup ladle.)
"Your guess is as good as mine. Please go put it in the sink."
He puts it in the porch planter and smiles at me over his shoulder.
Yes, there are fun times even now.
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Reply to Fawnby
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Probably by seeking placement for a loved one you simply cannot mentally cope with caring for at this point. That would be my response. Because of course your loved one's behavior won't be changing.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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