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allshesgot Asked February 2011

Ok is this dementia? Or just behavior cause she's 85?

This is just one example of why im wondering if my aunt that I take care of has dementia going on. I was going to leave the house at 4:00 to take kids to grandmas house,while I was in her apt. Which is connected to our home she says make sure the stove is turned off, not a problem its not been turned on. And lock the front door. Ok. Make sure your dog is in his. Bed(kennel) ok. Then I stood there while she went through it all again, ok now you will check and make sure the stove is turned off,yes Its not been used but I will check it before I leave, ok and your dog will be in his bed? Yes, ok just close and lock the front door f you want. Ok honey it will be closed and locked. Then before I walk outta the room she goes through it all again!!!! About 15 min later the kids come get me, she wants you mom. I go to her door,do you need something honey, yeah now you were gonna go about 4? Yes, ok now make sure the stove is off.......and went through the whole spill again for the fourth time. Now she's smart, handles her own money,sets up her own pills everyday,I just help her at bedtime with her med routine. She remembers to brush her teeth most of the time. Everything

allshesgot Mar 2011
Thanks, you know she does have blockages in the neck and her physician thought she was having spells from somthing breaking in the neck and traviling. Her shaky leg has gotten worse so has her mood. What do you mean by she snapped?

Piratess2011 Mar 2011
You know something a previous poster may sound like the culprit...stroke. My mom when she started her decline was going nuts about insurrance paperwork on my dad's old cars (my inherited cars) and I took care of everything she went on and on about it for weeks and months until one day she snapped and ended up in 72 hour hold...the psych ward doc said mini strokes.

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allshesgot Mar 2011
Thank you so much guys:)

wuvsicecream Feb 2011
I also suggest a consult with a dr. this may be typical type of dementia or it could be confusion due to meds. My brother who is really 50 but mentally like 15 and has been mentally disabled always but sharp about his whereabouts and very good memory unfortunatally he got hit and run by a car and had gone from ICU to a pretty quick recoop in a rehab due to need of phsycal therapy and strong pain meds for a leg injury and he was talking crazy about things while on the meds so I thought he was doing this because of head injury but it was meds.

ShadowChild1 Feb 2011
When my father had his first stroke, he also remained very sharp but would repeat similar issues over and over. I was told this was the result of the stroke. Also, some strokes make it difficult to retrieve a word or phrase - particularly nouns in some situations.
I have taught students with traumatic brain injuries for over thirty years and have discovered that a written checklist I can hand a child will assist with anxiety about certain issues. Even colored magnets will act as symbols, sometimes, that will remind someone that you have turned off the stove, etc. I agree that a doctor needs to know about these behaviors ASAP. Also,many books that can be found at the library will give you much better strategies to help you and your aunt. Best wishes! RLP

JoyceW Feb 2011
I wanted to add, that if your Aunt had tendencies toward being a certain way before she had the stroke, could be her behaviors would be more extreme after the stroke. I myself am a little OCD and so was my Mom, She became more obsessive about certain things in her life as she got older. Definitely something to think about. It certainly can be frustrating for both of you.

JoyceW Feb 2011
I believe if you told her doctor/neurologist exactly what you told us, they might be able to give you an insite into what is happening in her brain. Sometimes the MRI, or CT scan can even pinpoint what part of the brain has been affected by a stroke. Could be the stroke she suffered might have affected the part of her brain that controls her short term memory. My Mom has had two brain bleeds since June and each one has impared her memory and reasoning ability. She was a lot like your Aunt. Very capable. It bothers my Mom a lot and now she is under the care of others. She is quite unhappy that she cannot live independently. I would keep a journal of her daily activities as best you can and let the professionals come up with the diagnosis. Sure sounds like the beginning of dementia.Also, being 85 puts her more an risk for age related dementia. Good luck. What a good niece you are.

allshesgot Feb 2011
Sorry I didn't finish. Anyways all the important things she is smart as a whip mostly. I don't think she forgets anything important. And im not sure if she has forgotten or is just rehashing it all several times in 20 min. She forgets words a lot I've notice me finishing her sentences a lot. One night she asked me to turn off the radio, it was accually the tv. Little things like that a lot. Evry thing is a watcha mi callit, or a you know, whatever its called. Is this just an after affedt of the stroke she had 6 months ago? Im lost. She has always been a scheduled person,you know, kinda uptight. Be on time, now she leaves for everything like an hour before she has to. I don't know any thoughts?

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