Always ready to "go home".

"I'm glad you packed, we're going home tomorrow morning"

Repeat everyday.

“I want to go home” is one of the most heard requests from people with dementia. It could mean many things. What you don't want to do is try to convince her that she is home. This could cause more confusion and disorientation because you tell her this is home but she doesn't recognize it as home. She may feel a sense of anxiety, discomfort or insecurity. Many times “home” is a place in time where she was happy or has fond memories of. It is not a physical place she can return to.

When my wife would ask to go home, I would say something like “I'm waiting for a phone call”, or “It's too cold right now, let's wait till tomorrow”, or “Wait till I'm done (doing the dishes, watching a program)” or any other fiblet you can come up with. Meanwhile offer a distraction like having a snack, going for a walk, or asking her to tell you about home.

Books like The 36 Hour Day and Surviving Alzheimer's are excellent resources especially written for the caregiver.

Just keep deferring to tomorrow. Leave the suitcase packed. Let her know that, “Yep, Mom. I’m taking you home tomorrow. That’s why you’re all packed and good to go.”

It will become your second nature to have this same conversation, and it will placate her. You want her to be different. To be content. You need to try to make peace with the fact that you want what you can’t have.

This is called Sundowning and is a very common dementia behavior. It's called Sundowning because it tends to start happening in the afternoons and evening, and the scientific explanation is that the lower light and longer shadows increase confusion and fear in those with Dementia -- but they aren't completely sure what causes it.

The home she is packing to leave for is not the home she's currently in, but most likely the one of her youth. You can research strategies online to divert and distract her before this behavior sets in. One is to start turning on bright lights sooner than needed; you can take her outside for a walk or car ride; engage her in a task like folding kitchen towels; playing cards, etc.