My 70 year old sister talks to herself out load and in a whisper nonstop. She is not on any meds. She gets so argumentative when I try to help her with anything. What could be causing this?
Reminds me of a story of two older sisters living together. One of them is muttering something. The other one says, "If you're talking to me, talk louder. If you're talking to yourself, talk softer."
I think I'd be more concerned about her getting argumentative when you try to help her. That's got to make your life more difficult.
If you find a solution, let me know. Grandma doesn't really have dementia yet is an endless chatterbox with a running dissertation of everyone that has wronged her from grade school on up in an endlessly repeating loop. During the day it's OK, turn up the TV. At night, I can't even wear earplugs since if I did and she fell, I wouldn't know about it.
Your profile says Sister has dementia. Is this a medical diagnosis, or your own observations. If it hasn't been diagnoses, then I agree with Hugemom. She should have a medical evaluation.
Can you tell if she is talking to herself, or perhaps to people who aren't there? I'm wondering if this involves delusions and/or hallucinations as well as the chattering. This might be a good thing to observe and report to her doctor.
If she has dementia, the talking to herself or to invisible folks is most likely related to the dementia. (Not everyone who talks to herself has dementia, however. I'm 72, not cognitively impaired, and since I've lived alone I often talk out loud to myself.) I agree with ohmeowzer. There is nothing you need do about this. No harm done.
Getting argumentative when you try to help her could also be related to her dementia (if that is what she has.) It may be worthwhile to figure out how to minimize this, for your sake and hers! We'd need more information to make suggestions. What kind of help do you try to give her? What are her objections? Does this happen consistently or just once in a while?
Having a loved one with dementia is very challenging. Many of us have experience with that. This is a good place to come for suggestions.
My mom has Alzehemiers and dementia and she talks to other people she sees non stop ,the neurologist told me this was normal and someday she may not talk at all ..so j just let her jabber on ..it’s not hurting anyone so it’s ok
I think I'd be more concerned about her getting argumentative when you try to help her. That's got to make your life more difficult.
Can you tell if she is talking to herself, or perhaps to people who aren't there? I'm wondering if this involves delusions and/or hallucinations as well as the chattering. This might be a good thing to observe and report to her doctor.
If she has dementia, the talking to herself or to invisible folks is most likely related to the dementia. (Not everyone who talks to herself has dementia, however. I'm 72, not cognitively impaired, and since I've lived alone I often talk out loud to myself.) I agree with ohmeowzer. There is nothing you need do about this. No harm done.
Getting argumentative when you try to help her could also be related to her dementia (if that is what she has.) It may be worthwhile to figure out how to minimize this, for your sake and hers! We'd need more information to make suggestions. What kind of help do you try to give her? What are her objections? Does this happen consistently or just once in a while?
Having a loved one with dementia is very challenging. Many of us have experience with that. This is a good place to come for suggestions.