Hi all
My mother was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Recently, she has started having episodes after waking up from naps, where she doesn't recognise my dad, who lives with her and is her primary carer. She either thinks he is a stranger or an extended family member who is pretending to be her husband. During these episodes she will frantically call me or neighbours to try and ascertain where "dad" is, and to get him to come home. She is mildly worried during these episodes but doesn't perceive an immediate threat - if it's at night, she will invite Dad/stranger/cousin to sleep in a spare room.
I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas about how to respond in this situation, either for my dad (who is there with her when it happens) or for me (whom she phones when it happens). It doesn't seem realistic to try to persuade her that it is Dad, or at least we haven't had much luck with that approach.
Thanks
Seb
My mother was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Recently, she has started having episodes after waking up from naps, where she doesn't recognise my dad, who lives with her and is her primary carer. She either thinks he is a stranger or an extended family member who is pretending to be her husband. During these episodes she will frantically call me or neighbours to try and ascertain where "dad" is, and to get him to come home. She is mildly worried during these episodes but doesn't perceive an immediate threat - if it's at night, she will invite Dad/stranger/cousin to sleep in a spare room.
I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas about how to respond in this situation, either for my dad (who is there with her when it happens) or for me (whom she phones when it happens). It doesn't seem realistic to try to persuade her that it is Dad, or at least we haven't had much luck with that approach.
Thanks
Seb