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Rose52 Asked April 2020

How can I distract my mom from being angry from the night before so that she will eat and take her pills?

Last night she said she was tired so she went to bed around 8:30 she woke up around 11:00. She has Dementia. I told her that it is still night time not morning and tried to get her back to bed. She started making up the bed and getting angry, So I left her alone. Then she came out the room confused talking about things that didn’t happen, swearing and saying that we think she’s an idiot. My daughter and I tried to find out what she was actually feeling, but it only made her angrier, So we just left her alone. Now I said good morning to her and I can tell that she is still upset. What can I do?

luckylu Apr 2020
Maybe you could smash up her medicine in a grinder and put it in a teaspoon of applesauce and just give it to her to get the medicine down her and then give her the breakfast.
Her tastebuds would be awakened by the spoon full of applesauce and that might get her going on her breakfast is what I'm thinking.
I just hope you find some way that works for you soon.

BarbBrooklyn Apr 2020
Is thus a sudden change in mom's mental status? If so, please call her doc and get her tested for a UTI right away. UTIs can cause these kinds of psychiatric symptoms with no other indicators.

Otherwise, make sure that you get a geriatric psychiatrist or psych trained PA or NP on mom's team.

Meds can't cure dementia but, at least for my mom, antidepressants and anti-anxiety meds made a huge difference in her quality of life.

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Grandma1954 Apr 2020
A person with Dementia has their own "reality" and nothing you say or do will convince them that they are "wrong"
Go with the flow and try to redirect behavior that is upsetting to you or her.
This is not going to get better it will get worse.
The question is will you be able to care for your mom as well as your daughter?
And if your daughter goes off to school will you be able to care for your mom by yourself?
Is your house such that you will be able to handle her as more and more mobility issues come into play? Walkers and wheelchairs are much better without carpeting. Carpeting is also a potential trip hazard as are area rugs. Most normal wheelchairs need wider doorways. Just a few things to think about.

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