My mom is in late stage Alzheimer’s disease and has begun to shake, tremble and pull on bed sheets. What's this, a new symptom? I want to help.

Is your mom receiving hospice or palliative care? If she is, I suggest you ask the care providers about this symptom. It might be terminal agitation (also called terminal restlessness).

Get mom medicated. Hopefully she is on hospice and they'll know what to prescribe for agitation.

I'msorry you're going through this, both of you. End of life is very difficult. God bless you.

This is in fact quite common in latter stages and as the end of life approaches.
I highly recommend considering Hospice care now. Not only will they help with end of life plans, they will also provide you such good information.

Do also look up online such things as "elder picking at bedsheet". You will be amazed that up it will pop. It actually has a NAME: ("Elderly people picking at bed sheets, known as carphologia, often signals confusion, delirium, or end-of-life restlessness (terminal agitation) due to physical discomfort, anxiety, or dementia, where they may be trying to grasp imaginary things or find relief from itching").

So common is it that almost anyone who is actively can be seen picking the bedding with nervous small pecks. And no CERTAIN reason is usually found.
This is a manifestation of disturbed brain activity.

Tremors are common as well, and normal to certain end stage dementias involving Parkinson's and Lewy's, though manifesting in others as well.

I hope you will consider Hospice help at this time. I would discuss the option with your doctor.

This is agitation my Mom went through it also your mom’s doctor can prescribe her medication to keep her calm. I put pillows around my mom in bed to keep her from hurting herself she couldn’t control it. Praying for you I understand how hard this is my Mom had long stage Alzheimer’s for 20 years she passed away quietly in my home after I took her out of the nursing home for a year half what nightmare there. Hope this helped

I didn't like this, you feel so helpless! It's agitation,where the mind and body are in conflict with each other. While medication can help, I had some success with keeping her hands busy with a spongy squeeze toy, not one of those exercise balls for arthritis, something soft. There's other things things out there like pop caps but those were too hard to play with. There's blankets and fidget toys for this condition. I got Mom a Hello Kitty and a small yellow chick that was extra soft! Her hands were busy and helped her mind focus. You can't stop it but you can help her relax.

As people with Dementia near the end of their lives, anxiety sets in. My Moms was humming. It started out as just a low hum, everyday it got louder where it was affecting the other residents so she was given an anxiety med. It calmed her to the point though, she just sat and stared. My RN daughter says it then becomes a quality of life thing. Anxiety is not good for them.

I'd like to add, there are many You tuber hospice nurse channels out there, one of the best I've used is Hospice Nurse Julie. Tons of info, examples and suggestions. They have been a huge help with me caring for my wife.

Sonye041023: Pose your question to her neurologist.