arlonipper, I see by your profile that your Mom is living in a nursing home, and she has Alzheimer's/Dementia.
My Dad had sundowning. He would mentally climb into his time machine and transport himself back to the 1940's. At first all of this rattled me whenever Dad would call me at home. Then I found if I transported myself back to the 1940's, or at least tried to imagine what life was back then, it made it easier for me to talk to Dad. I learned a lot of fascinating things about Dad's work, the working conditions, etc.
There is no way..someone has to be with her. If she is alone get her to a nursing home before she hurts herself or gets run over by a car by wandering.
Each of the two LOs for whom I’ve cared had issues with late day into night calling.
What kind of “comfort” does she seem to seek from you if you answer the phone?
Have you spoken to her caregivers about techniques they’re using to help her manage her awake/sleep routines? Do you think she’d allow her caregivers to “help” her make her calls, or to calm her when she’s upset?
The LO presently in my care is taking a small dose of Melatonin at night, and while it hasn’t solved the problem entirely, it does seem to help some.
We also gave her access to an active phone with an unused # that she remembered, and an answering machine, for several months after she entered residential care, and she often left poignant messages for deceased family members. This behavior ultimately phased out. If you have the technology to try this, it may serve to assure her without waking you up when her calls come at odd hours.
4 Answers
Helpful Newest
First Oldest
First
My Dad had sundowning. He would mentally climb into his time machine and transport himself back to the 1940's. At first all of this rattled me whenever Dad would call me at home. Then I found if I transported myself back to the 1940's, or at least tried to imagine what life was back then, it made it easier for me to talk to Dad. I learned a lot of fascinating things about Dad's work, the working conditions, etc.
ADVERTISEMENT
What kind of “comfort” does she seem to seek from you if you answer the phone?
Have you spoken to her caregivers about techniques they’re using to help her manage her awake/sleep routines? Do you think she’d allow her caregivers to “help” her make her calls, or to calm her when she’s upset?
The LO presently in my care is taking a small dose of Melatonin at night, and while it hasn’t solved the problem entirely, it does seem to help some.
We also gave her access to an active phone with an unused # that she remembered, and an answering machine, for several months after she entered residential care, and she often left poignant messages for deceased family members. This behavior ultimately phased out. If you have the technology to try this, it may serve to assure her without waking you up when her calls come at odd hours.