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fornarnia Asked January 2021

What to do with 60 year old mother who had a stroke but is now showing signs of dementia?

My mother had a stroke around 7 to 8 years ago and for a while she was paralyzed and couldn't move half of her body, and slurred her speech. Overtime she got better and typically she can move her body and talk. However, a few days ago I started noticing weird behavior. Today, she decided that she wanted to pee in the kitchen and hallway. When I told her she was in the kitchen and hallway, there was this glazed expression that went over her face as if she didn't understand what I was saying. She has done this before but that was because her legs didn't work because of her stroke. Typically we would banter and talk about it. But, she remains silent and doesn't give me any guide to what I am supposed to do with her and what she wants. It is terrifying me. She also keeps wandering from my room to the living room as if she searching for something or possibly to pee again. She attempted to sleep on the living room table just because it had some cloth on it. At some point when I tried to navigate her towards my room, she just reached out and touched my face. But, again there was no verbal guidance there was no facial changes. She remained silent, and unyielding to my suggestions such as not trying to sleep on the kitchen table or trying to navigate her towards the bathroom. Should I be worried about her behavior and could she possibly have early signs of dementia? Or am I overexaggerating?

SnoopyLove Jan 2021
Thanks for the update, Fornarnia. Hope you get some more answers soon.

fornarnia Jan 2021
Thank you all! I did end up having to take her to the emergency room. She had super high blood pressure because she refuses to take her medicine. Which resulted in her becoming all weird. This upcoming Monday, I am still taking her to a doctor and a neurologist just to make sure she didn't have a mini-stroke though. Thank you all once again!
Beatty Jan 2021
Ensure the urine test for UTI is done too.

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Countrymouse Jan 2021
Do be worried about these recent changes, but don't guess what's going on - your mother needs medical attention. I should get on the phone to her doctor and report what you've observed, not forgetting to remind the doctor of her medical history.

funkygrandma59 Jan 2021
Sounds more like she may have had another stroke. Get her to the Dr ASAP. They will be able to rule certain things in or out, like another stroke, UTI, or any dementia. Please keep us posted. God bless you.

thingsarecrazy8 Jan 2021
I would call her doctor ASAP. While the symptoms show signs of dementia, it could also be a UTI and believe it or not hearing loss. Any way you look at it. Please get your mom checked by a physician.

BarbBrooklyn Jan 2021
I would call her doctor this morning.

A sudden behavioral change like this can be a UTI, another stroke or dementia.

She needs medical attention today.

sjplegacy Jan 2021
I don't think you're exaggerating. Her behavior could indicate dementia symptoms. Her stroke certainly damaged some of her brain and since that time she could have experienced other very small and undetectable strokes. Strokes can result in insufficient oxygen to the brain over time and cause vascular dementia (VaD). Make a appt with her PCP and have her screened for dementia.

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