I had spent almost 2 solid weeks of dementia around the New Moon and then sometime later I was better for several days straight! Oh Happy Days were back! I did a lot of deep thinking, because some of our 4 adult children are clueless on what to do. They ask questions (I have no answers when I'm "bad off") and so they avoid us. (My opinion.)
This is what I came up with and taped it to my bedroom door so when you enter you can't easily miss it. I left space where I or they can add more:
NOT IN RANDOM ORDER:
Don't ask me if I have taken my meds or vitamins. Bring me water and them (IF) you know for certain that I haven't, or that I need another one, now.
Distract me with something else. Even if it is just "busy work". This may last well for 10 minutes or 2 hours then come up with some other distraction.
Have a list made up for distractions that have worked, that you've heard or thought of but haven't tried.
Take your loved one a drive. (my favorite help)
Have your loved ones favorite funny movie to watch: over and over and over if necessary.
Don't ask me any questions! None!
Let me talk if I want and DO NOT interrupt me while I'm talking even if I am not making sense or have the wrong word or name.
Let me wander around the house, or certain safe areas.
Let me cry.
DO NOT tell me that I "CAN'T" do any of the above. They may not seem to you to help but they DO help me! But if you can distract me into doing something else that is GREAT!
I may want to be alone: perhaps in my room. Or just alone while everyone is around me!
As a last result, for me, at this stage is, hold me and assure me that it will end. LIE TO ME!
This is THE most important thing I discovered when searching my mind: I am "homesick" for ME! I am all too aware in my most worst demented state, that I am not who I was. I may be homesick for my childhood and parents, pets, home. Or for being a Mommy to my babies. Or homesick for who I was in my career. Etc. I wander around; cry; search for ME! And you, my love, may never have even known the ME that I am homesick for, because we had never met then!
I hope this helps, I think it did my children. Jaffy
This is what I came up with and taped it to my bedroom door so when you enter you can't easily miss it. I left space where I or they can add more:
NOT IN RANDOM ORDER:
Don't ask me if I have taken my meds or vitamins. Bring me water and them (IF) you know for certain that I haven't, or that I need another one, now.
Distract me with something else. Even if it is just "busy work". This may last well for 10 minutes or 2 hours then come up with some other distraction.
Have a list made up for distractions that have worked, that you've heard or thought of but haven't tried.
Take your loved one a drive. (my favorite help)
Have your loved ones favorite funny movie to watch: over and over and over if necessary.
Don't ask me any questions! None!
Let me talk if I want and DO NOT interrupt me while I'm talking even if I am not making sense or have the wrong word or name.
Let me wander around the house, or certain safe areas.
Let me cry.
DO NOT tell me that I "CAN'T" do any of the above. They may not seem to you to help but they DO help me! But if you can distract me into doing something else that is GREAT!
I may want to be alone: perhaps in my room. Or just alone while everyone is around me!
As a last result, for me, at this stage is, hold me and assure me that it will end. LIE TO ME!
This is THE most important thing I discovered when searching my mind: I am "homesick" for ME! I am all too aware in my most worst demented state, that I am not who I was. I may be homesick for my childhood and parents, pets, home. Or for being a Mommy to my babies. Or homesick for who I was in my career. Etc. I wander around; cry; search for ME! And you, my love, may never have even known the ME that I am homesick for, because we had never met then!
I hope this helps, I think it did my children. Jaffy