Adult male exhibiting strange potty behaviour is it sign of illness?

I should also add he does number 1 and number 2 outside... not just urinating.

Thank you so much for your responses.

He did grow up on a farm like area without indoor bathrooms but that was a long time ago. We now live in a city. This just began a few months ago. He did also just lose his brother 6 months ago which was hard for him.

He's just very nervous lately is what I noticed. He's not mixing anything up but does get agitated a lot more easily.

Well, that's certainly unusual. Did your father grow up in a home without an inside bathroom? I'm just wondering if he's harkening back to something in his childhood or maybe his military service that is making him feel more comfortable outside? Does he go frequently? Older men often have enlarged prostates which means they have to urinate more frequently (particularly at night). But that doesn't really explain his desire to go outside. Do you live in a city/suburban setting, or out in the country?

I once dated a guy 30 years ago who did the same thing when he came to my house. I had three bathrooms and he went out in the backyard to urinate. Needless to say, that's one reason we're no longer together.

If he didn't have an outside bathroom in his childhood, I'd try to get him to the doctor. But don't expect him to go along with that idea. Do you see any other unusual behaviors? Forgetting things, mixing up names or words, having trouble completing tasks? Those can be some early signs of cognitive impairment.

He should be checked for a UTI. And yes, this can be a sign of dementia progression.