Validation therapy; I am torn on how to handle the situation.

My wife's confusion has become more pronounced lately. For example, putting cloths on backwards, inside out, etc. I took her shopping for clothing, sometimes I have to help her in the dressing room. On this particular occasion there was a sale thus there were a lot of girls/women going in and out of the dressing room area. Since some of them were young girls I was uncomfortable helping my wife in the dressing room so I decided not to go in the dressing area, I explained to my wife what she needed to try on and sent her in and waited outside. She came out and all was good so I told her to go back in and change back into her street clothes. This is where she usually gets confused. It usually takes a few trips back and forth before she gets it right. This time after a few tries she came out with the new top on and her street clothes top on around her waist, I quickly sent her back in to correct the situation. The whole time I was getting anxious as to what she would do this time, About five minutes later she came out the same way, so I decided I had to go in and help her regardless of the traffic going in and out of the dressing area, After I got her dressed I told her we would come back later in the week when the store was less busy,

Activities like this are stressful and stress always makes things more difficult for her.

The last few times we traveled the stress has made her agitated. Going through security is so difficult for me to handle that we may not fly anymore. On this particular trip she got cold in the plane and was so upset that she tensed up, she was very angry. She started rocking back and forth in her seat, I tried to calm her to no avail. On top of that there were no blankets on board. I began to think we may have to cancel our plans and return home after we landed. Finally I set up the phone so she could watch TV, then everything was ok as if the previous incident had not occurred.

She has begun to get confused about a place where she used to work. She was convinced that she used to work at Hobby Lobby. Reluctantly, I explained to her that she never worked there, that she worked at a similar store. Naturally she became very defensive. With evidence I convinced her. I am learning that this probably was not the thing to do.

She has a friend, that she used to work with, this friend works at the movie theater. Now she is convinced that she worked at the same theater, since her friend works there. We go to the theater about once a week. Now she is telling people at the theater that she used to work there. She told this to the person that handled our ticket purchase. The girl thought it was nice that my wife worked there so she asked her details and all my could say was, 'How do you expect me to remember'. I need to try and discuss this with my wife before someone at the theater challenges her.

I read the article on Validation Therapy and believe it makes sense so I am torn on how to handle the situation.

Sometimes I am not as patient as I need to be and lose my temper and this worries me since the dementia is not nearly as bad as it is going to be.

This is just me venting.

Thanks,

Tim