Hi all,
My mom has had sudden onset dementia for a year now. I am familiar with the abuse and aggression she exhibits, but wonder if it's normal for her to always want to punish everybody. She is very accusatory and constantly says she wants to die. Some sufferers I know forget that some family members have died, but my mom knows exactly who's passed and wants to be with them. There is rarely any positivity and so visiting her is always stressful for all family members. We try to cheer her up with all sorts of tactics, but nothing works for more than a few seconds, then she is back to abusing us. I think I could cope, if there was some funny or loving moments, but after a year of abuse, this is so depressing. I try to remind myself that she doesn't know what she is saying, but the stuff that comes out of her mouth is uncannily harsh and direct and breaks our hearts to think she just might hate us as much as she makes out. Is this just a manifestation of her frustration? Does anybody have any good ideas or strategies to use and does anybody else out there have such a hard time?
Trishx
My mom has had sudden onset dementia for a year now. I am familiar with the abuse and aggression she exhibits, but wonder if it's normal for her to always want to punish everybody. She is very accusatory and constantly says she wants to die. Some sufferers I know forget that some family members have died, but my mom knows exactly who's passed and wants to be with them. There is rarely any positivity and so visiting her is always stressful for all family members. We try to cheer her up with all sorts of tactics, but nothing works for more than a few seconds, then she is back to abusing us. I think I could cope, if there was some funny or loving moments, but after a year of abuse, this is so depressing. I try to remind myself that she doesn't know what she is saying, but the stuff that comes out of her mouth is uncannily harsh and direct and breaks our hearts to think she just might hate us as much as she makes out. Is this just a manifestation of her frustration? Does anybody have any good ideas or strategies to use and does anybody else out there have such a hard time?
Trishx