My mother has vascular dementia with behavioral disturbances. (dr said she thinks it’s probably mixed dementia but was just listing as vascular for now) She has delusions. Her legs and feet were swelling due to cardiac problems and her shoes wouldn’t fit for a while but now with compression stockings, the swelling has gone down enough that she can wear a few of the pairs she has. We have repeatedly tried them on her, she says they fit then a couple days later is back to having “no shoes to wear”. Currently the only thing she will wear are the gripper slipper socks they give you in hospitals. ( although she told the neurologist Monday she (the dr) is so dumb the Dr didn’t KNOW they were shoes. Yep that was a rip roaring visit , hence the behavior disturbances diagnosis lol!)
The AL wants her wearing shoes for safety plus obviously she needs shoes when she goes out. We just tried buying her a new pair but same thing, they fit , she says they fit but an hour, day or week later refuses to wear them and says they don’t fit. We try them back on and the cycle repeats. I don’t think even pretending they are a new pair would help since we have bought her new pairs with the same results.
I know with delusional thinking you can’t argue but how in the world can I get shoes on her lol?
My MIL used to buy those slip-on canvas shoes were the soles give some. Walmart sells them this time of year.
Their main advantage is that they stay on comfortably without gripping anywhere in particular on your actual foot. Plus they can be easier to slip on/do up, depending on the style. There are some very pretty ones around.
Just a thought!
It could be that your Mom just cannot put on her shoes, so that is one reason the Assisted Living finds her walking around shoeless. Have you tried different types of shoes? Wonder if tie-less sneakers would work. Would the Assisted Living accept residents wearing easy to slip on sandals, if said sandals are allowed and the said item would stay on the foot?
Your right, your Mom now has a mind of her own within that journey called dementia. She could be in a child-like stage, and doesn't want to wear shoes.
It could be you Mum's brain is stuck in the time when none of her shoes fit and she cannot get past it.
I am not sure if it is an option, but Dad only wears Croc style footwear now. They stay on, but are nice and wide and very easy to slip on. He has lined ones that are his slippers, no hole ones that he wears outside.