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Kiki63 Asked May 2017

How do I help my 95-year-old father with dementia stop worrying all the time about going to the bathroom?

My father frets all the time about if he goes out with us he might change his mind last minute because he feels he needs to be by the bahtroom. It seems when we are out that is ALL he thinks about a bathroom and he cant enjoy his time away. How can we ease his worries and what can we say? Thanks Kathy.

BarbBrooklyn May 2017
It sounds as though he is suffering from anxiety. Anxiety needs to be treated medically and pharacologically in dementia. Once we realized my mom had dementia, we realized why no amount of reassurance was helping with anything.

cwillie May 2017
I'm going to relay what Kiki63 posted on my wall in the hope some of you have some coping strategies for her:

"He just is worried. I do not knwo why. we have guards etc. We tell him that all the time. Just doesnt click with him. Thats why I am asking on what to say to him and what to not say."

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BarbBrooklyn May 2017
My mother did thus early on. It turned out that she developed fecal incontinence. She was taking Imodium nearly every day along with a fiber supplement. It was causing her to become backed up, but with leaking liquid stool. She wouldn't talk to anyone, including her doctor about what was going on.

Eventually, she had a huge "blowout" of stool which caused her to pass out. Was taken to the hospital. 5 days off all of those meds allowed her to go back to normal, allowed us to realize that she needed a different level of care.

cwillie May 2017
What exactly is he worried about? If he has incontinence or problems getting to the bathroom on time make sure he has some disposable underwear on when he goes out (all the time at home would probably be a good idea as well).

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