Any suggestions on sleep walking and hiding things?
Hiding things is not new for her but now she is doing it while sleep walking and can't remember doing it or where she left it Also, what to do about public displays . She hid her pills and I tore up the house trying to find them. Hubby took her to Dr appointment and she ordered pancakes, hard to mess up pancakes but of course she found a way. Verbally berated the waitress and began screaming in the restaurant, accused the waitress of stealing the credit card, that was still on the table. When we try to ease the situation and explain she has Alzheimer's she gets T totally pissed and says we treat her like a child. Back to the pills... of course she always blame things on ME that's not new and I overlook it but I fear her threats of calling the police when she says I hide them because in face they are in my room and I dispense them to her, ALL OF THEM as of today !! She thinks she can take them when ever she wants like her pain pills, it reads Q 6 hours but she says " OH BS, I take it when I want" Her Psych pills are 3 times a day with Haldol PRN. I feel like I'm caught between a rock & hard place. I lock them up to keep her from Overdose but she gets angry and says not to treat her like a baby. I've been trying very VERY hard to not engage her in her melt downs with short sweet answers and that doesn't seem to work either. Yesterday she asked if hubby had any black slacks needed washed, I explained that I had done ALL the laundry the day before and she retorts well that's great you did the laundry as sarcastic as she can get so... she gets CLEAN clothes out of the closet and washes those LOL I am at my wits end... We buy the soap /Downey .. and can't afford for her to was 1 item at a time, or CLEAN clothes.. LOL any suggestions??
It sounds like you really have your hands full. Much of what you describe is not really unusual behavior for a dementia patient, though. That's what they do, due to the brain damage.
I wonder if you are expecting her to act better and not have symptoms over time. Normally, over time it gets worse and not better and there really aren't anyways to change them for the better.
Sometimes, as their condition progresses, it's not feasible to take them to certain places. She may not handle bright lights and strangers very well. Things are different and they tolerate things differently. I describe it as caring for a temperamental toddler. There will likely be temper tantrums, acting rude in public or crying for no reason. Odd behavior is not odd behavior in the world of dementia. It's common behavior.
Of course, it does sound as if she is anxious. I would work with a psychiatrist to get her established on a good daily med that should help her anxiety and one that may help her sleeping issue too. I would also add that she should NEVER have access to any of those meds. It's like allowing a toddler to have their own meds. The same goes for things like aspirin and cleaning supplies. They can ingest harmful things, even though you don't think it's likely. That's why things are locked away in Dementia Units. No matter how much she complains, you can't allow a dementia patient to endanger themselves. You have to look past the complaints and accusations and protect her. Her contentions have to be tolerated.
Some people have alarms on the bed that alarms when she gets up, but you may be up all night with her. Unless the meds work, you'll get little sleep, so you may consider hiring a person to watch her at night.
Hiding things is common and I don't know any remedy for that. In Dementia Units, they lock most belongings away so they cannot be hidden.
Ask for a letter/s from all doctors or the main doctors for her conditions! And if they do not know!! Get her tested!
Also tell the doctors everything!
I used to ring mums shrink & General practitioner & go & see mums general practitioner sometimes on my own and tell him everything & he would help me with mum ...
When shes outof control ring ambulance as she will expose her behaviour infront of hospital staff, doctors & you must get the release papers from hospital & all the medical reports & backtrack & get the archive reports from hospital!That way you can show cops and eventually they are onto her!! As for sleepwalking well get inside locks as my mum used to walk up to the balcony & try jump it! Its low & she used to leave the house via jumping the balcony before!
They are who they are!!
And my mum has dementia and simultaneously her meds have fried her brains & she too refuses antidepressants. and if you can think it ! My mum has done it!! They all elderly people need to be in a nursing home when they are out of control! Try to get as much community or home care as possible ! Thats not an option anymore cause at some point she must go into a nursing home ! For your safety & for hers & to also to get your life back! Ring an ambulance when crazy things happen cause the hospital doctors will know what to do so too will the social worker at the hospital!
They will help!
But uou gotta start telling people everything about her!
Also speak to the local police & give them the doctors letters & soon that will stop cause they will know shes mentally not well!!
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