So pleased to read this thread today.
My Mum had a couple of years not finding the right word, then doing that thing where you explain the word rather than the word itself (eg the little grey animal with the bushy tail) and now she is happy to chat and chat but although it sounds like conversation, the actual words make no sense. When she is upset about something and trying so hard to explain to me what the problem is, I feel so helpless and frustrated for her. The other day I had no idea what 'Father Christmas with a bowl of hot water' meant, nor when she said to me: ''You know ... cowboys and indians'. She cannot name or recognise colours either - I found that out while doing some colouring with her the other day (hers was neater than mine though!) It's incredible how some pathways go and others remain.
At Mum's CH, there are lots of PWD's who symptoms present very obviously, who have behaviour traits etc and need frequent help from Carers - Mum does not need this at the moment. However, even the worst of these PWD's chats with the right words - which Mum can't do. It makes me so sad that many of the other residents have given up on Mum, as they cannot understand her conversation, and breaks my heart when after a long 'conversation' she says to me 'it's nice to have a normal chat with someone who doesn't think I am going barmy'.
As Mum is the only one whose speech is like this at the CH, I am so grateful to read this thread, and see we are not alone.