Alzheimer's Mom seems to talk non-stop. Any advice?

I know this post is over a year old, but I just found it. My mother also talks non stop and it is beyond annoying. She listens to nothing, demands responses, gets angry when we don't answer, but if we do, she talks right over us.... very difficult.

My husband is in late stage alz and talks nonstop as if he were giving a sermon all day. No one at the assisted living home has ever seen this. He also has no interest in anything except destroying things.

I should have added that everything he says is jibberish.

Have you talked to the doctor about this behavior?

my wife in latter stages alzheimer/dementia. was on exelonpatch. dr. recommended stopping it. she talks constantly lately makes little sense much of time but not all time. i usually just let this run its clurse and some times does stop. i havent had her go to psychatric specialist yet as not sure i trust meds. she diagnosed 3 1/2 yrs ago had much longer.

my wife is talking constantly now. usually incoherent but not always. dr. suggested stopping exelon patch. i amwondering about seeking elder psycharist but not sure will help. anybody have similar issue
/ wife in last stage alzheimer/dementia and at home

Since your posts are at the end of another older thread, you might not get as many responses as you would if you started your own thread. Just a tip.

Also, I'm afraid I don't much about the meds your wife is on. I suppose that if she seems to be in mental discomfort, I might consult with a doctor who could evaluate the cause and adjust her meds. Is her primary writing her prescriptions now?

My cousin was very talkative in her earlier stages of dementia. She has Vascular mixed with Alzheimers. She talked incessantly and at times was quite anxious. She went on Cymbalta, which treats pain, anxiety and depression and there was a great improvement. It brought her a lot of contentment and she no longer talks that way. She is now in the severe stage. She can talk, but usually, only if you ask her questions and even then, she doesn't elaborate.

I am taking care of my mom with the same issues. She talks about her life and makes up most of it. She wants to talk about her sex life or non-sex life because according to her she's had sex 2 times when she got pregnant with me and my brother. She says my sister-in-law is trying to get my brother to put her in an institution which is not true. If I try to tell her this she gets mad. I know that it will only get worse and try to just listen, but it is difficult some times.

lindacay, my mother makes things about herself, too. Was your mother ideal and do only good things? Yours sounds like she held virtue high on her list. Reminds me of the new David Bowie's song "Sue" about wanting to have Sue the Virgin written on the headstone even though there was a son. (Don't ask me what the song is about. I never know what Bowie is talking about.)

Yes I can relate. Mom was one of these people that life blessed with intelligence and a strong work ethic. I haven't heard that Bowie song but I will find it and listen.

I wouldn't look too hard. I have to admit it is one of my least favorite songs by him. Some of his Black Star is okay; the rest is odder than normal.

Definitely not unusual for them to have conversations but having her meds checked/adjusted my be a good idea. Also, is she getting enough sleep and water, both sleep deprivation and dehydration cause episodes of confusion and hallucinations and have been known to exacerbate any mental/cognitive condition

Hi, everybody. I don't post much, but I read everything. I have something in common with most of you - The talking probléme, too. My God, if I have to listen to another, " Every man on Earth is/was after me" story, or another account of 1941, I think I'll have a fit.

But that's not why I'm writing, I couldn't find a way to start a new thread, my brain is pretty well shot, and I'm filled with some pretty bad resentment,

I read this comment, and noticed my account details; I'm not too active here, but so many people liked my comments and sent me hugs. As you know, that's just a lovely boost so thank you. Sorry this is in the wrong place. Thank you all so much, and hang in there. I swear it, hang in there. This group is great. May whatever you believe in bless you very much.

Love.

NomdeVoyage

I sit with a male Alzheimer's patient whom talks nonstop but no real words , made up words so no one knows what he is talking about right how to help him. He can stay awake 36 hours straight talking like this, so far the doctor has found no melds to help him sleep or to stop the rambling talk that no one can understand.

The poor man, but God bless you for being there to listen. I wonder if he is trying to tell you something and can't get it out.

Interesting. My MIL (a preacher's wife) has always been talkative, but now that she's in a nursing home, she talks literally nonstop. She speaks so softly that you cannot hear her, but the bits and pieces I do hear don't seem to make any sense at all. I'm only a DIL. This seems to be something the rest of her children just accept. My husband thinks that she's always been a bit of a gossip, and now that she has less to keep her busy, that's just what she does: sits and watches and puts together stories about what she thinks ishappening. It does not seem to be tied to any anxiety, as far as we can tell.

My Mother is in the early stages of dementia. She drank heavily throughout my childhood up until about 10 years ago. Shortly after that the doctor put her on Klonopine and this became her new crutch. These two things combined my Mother talks non-stop. I hear her talking to the dogs when no one else is around. Her friends will not talk on the phone with her any longer because she will not shut up. I hate to admit that I just ignore her. If she asks me a question about something silly I pretend I don't hear her. My Dad has the patience of Jobe and deals with her. Through this group I am trying to learn the skills to become a better daughter to her for my Dad's sake. Trust me when I say the non-stop chatter drives me up a wall as well!

My neighbor who I am caregiver for, is also a nonstop talker. I think it is bascially because she is lonely. We can spend 10 hours together..and most of it will be her talking. We will do something.. and then she says.. lets have tea and some chit chat.. I have to laugh. because I am long out of chit chat.. and she should be. It can be exhausting to listen for that long.. even if not talking. I do a lot of smiling and head shaking.. but it is important to listen as well, as you glean information from them that you otherwise would not get if you were just asking a question which they can avoid giving a correct answer to if they want. I try to plan things where we have to move around.. go for walks or rides.. color.. what ever..to try and get her to at least slow the conversation down. I do notice if I do not participate in the conversation at least a little.. she is always asking me if I am mad at her. It is really a catch 22 problem as I know there will be a time when she is not able to converse like this, so I know to cherish the memories she is sharing.

Mom talks nonstop too. Unfortunately most of it makes sense, but she keeps repeating herself over and over. It usually will start with, " If he doesn't want me around, I'll go somewhere else --- and I'll never come back", then she will start with "two slices brown bread buttered, two slices american cheese". That usually starts about a half hour after breakfast. I have to keep telling her she just ate. She usually replies " then forget about it, I'll just starve". A half hour after lunch, she will start with it all over again. It' like a never ending tape loop.

I'm heading up to my parent's house tomorrow for a short visit, so I'm already preparing myself with the "uh-huhs" and "yeahs". I do appreciate hearing stories from my mom's early life, which she has just started talking about.

My mom also talks a lot about things in her childhood. I know I should listen and enjoy, but to tell the truth, she had the most boring childhood in the history of mankind. Terrible me for saying that!

I truly believe it depends on what portion of the brain is being effected by this terrible disease.
My husband has not said an actual word in almost 1 year now but prior to that for the past 5 years he said only a few words, yes, what and why. And for a few years before that conversation was rare and maybe just a sentence here and there.
So while changing medication or adjusting medication might help or then again it might not the "problem" might have resolved itself in time anyway when another portion of the brain gets hit.
I have found when one "problem" is resolved another is sure to make itself known. Then I have to learn how to deal with a new challenge. I like to think of them as challenges not problems. I am the one that has to adapt and learn how to deal with something new. I have said for everything he forgets I have to learn something new.
So although it drives you crazy enjoy the chatter because you never know what might me next it might be something even more irritating!

just one last thought. There has been a lot of research on music and headphones. Would she put on headphones to listen to music? It might block out ambient noise that she may find intrusive and overstimulating.

Anxiety is a hard thing; especially if the person has Alzheimer's disease. I know too like you because my mom has that as well. She one moment can be very relaxed and then suddenly get angry and yell. I believe that you are doing all of the right steps and giving your mom the right treatment. I think the best thing to do is just take one day at a time and live every single moment. That is what I do for my mom. We talk and talk about things and we relive the past everyday. Take one day at a time and go to a support group that would help you and support you. Stress balls are another great way in order to reduce stress. You can make them out of balloons and sand. I wish you the best, hang in there, and let us know how she is doing.

KalaFW1 My mum is exactly the same and hates that my dad and me don't talk much. She wants us to talk but then when we do she doesn't listen and talks over us so we have basically stopped talking because it is pointless. If we briefly talk to eachother she gets very angry, accusing us of conspiring against her. She threatens to put herself in a home constantly if things don't go her way instantly. Dad will never put her into residential care because he made her that promise many years ago, circumstances have changed though and I am very close to overruling his noble decision. Life has become unbearable. I have lost 1 parent to insanity and don't want my other parent to loose his marbles through caring for her. He is 85 and very fit but I see him becoming more erratic too as the years of caring are taking their toll heavily. I want to protect my father as he could potentially have a fulfilling life if it wasn't for doing the hardest job in the world.

My Mom also constantly talks --- to herself outloud! She repeats the same stuff word for word over and over. It can be really trying. The other night, she started talking in her sleep, it was the same stuff word for word that she says during the day. It usually starts out with " God, I don't want you sending me back tonight! I want to go straight up, do you hear straight up! Then she will talk about her father jumping ship when he came to America ( but that was my fathers father not hers ) then she will talk about my twin brother ( this is the first I have ever heard of this, and think she is confused about her own twin brother ) Then she goes on to say " I'm going to take my walker and go out into the street, and then it will be all over, and my son won't have to worry about me anymore". Then she will start all over again. This goes on from the time she wakes until the time she goes to bed. It's driving me nuts! I totally feel for you.

Mom is hard of hearing , so that constant chatter is spoken louder. Drives me nuts too. She seems to do it more when we are at church or just when others are around. Got her a hearing aid, she flushed it down the toilet, got a replacement, but unless I watch her every second , I am afraid I will be out 6000.00.

I think having her if she is able drawing pictures of her childhood is another great way for her to tell about her life story. When she draws her story about her life and history, then she can put it together into a book and then she can hold it and share with other people while telling it at the same time.

My Mother in law never stops moving even though she is bedridden. She is always moving her legs & constantly doing things with her hands. Grabbing things out of the air. She mumbles & very few words are spoken clearly. Even after getting her pain medication at night. I don't understand how she never wears herself out. what causes her to be like that? She's 89 with congestive heart failure, pace maker, pancreatic disease & kidney problems. It's sad & very hard on all the family/care givers. I wish I had an answer!

I took my dad off of Namenda and Aricept and only use a half tab of Atavan when he is extremely anxious or agitated. I have found that he is much better when I sit near him but say very little, allowing him to talk while I listen and make small comments like "Really, wow, yes or no depending on how I sense he is leaning, etc. I also feed him something every two hours to keep his blood sugars balanced and though I am unsure if that really is helping any, he speaks quietly throughout the day and those nights that he does not sleep. I also touch him a lot, a caress or a hug and tell him hello and ask how he is doing, If he is belligerent, then I walk out of the room and come back a few minutes later and say hello like we are long lost friends and I haven't seem him in a long time. He just lights up.

Also Lisajo... try giving your mom magnesium before she goes to bed. It helps with sleep and restlessness. I give my dad 250 mg and I take 400 mg nightly myself for leg cramps. It helps.