My mother is constantly angry at me. I thought dementia made them have short term memory and they could be psychotic one minute and then forget about what they were mad about. Not mine. She can be mad all day long, go to bed and still be mad the next day. I've tried all the caregiver tips, being cheerful, or walking out of the room, redirecting. Nothing seems to work anymore. She can turn on the charm with neighbors and friends (ha the few times they call or come by)' I get out for a few hors to do very part time dog walking and still I come home to pouting or hateful remarks in between pouting . HELP.
How about just going about your day....try as much as humanly possible to ignore her anger without being too silent. It's a crap shoot for sure.
My mom at this very moment has been running around for the past two hours wondering what she should be doing? I take her outside, she's cold and want's in. I come in, she has to go somewhere? I go out and mow the grass, sit her in the lovely sun...she's scared and has to run somewhere... now it's just, "kill me now". They have such a hard time "relaxing". Oh, with my mom, she can no longer watch the news... strictly Disney Channel for her.
Good luck and post often, it helps :)
Frankly? If mom continued all day and into the evening? That would be a break for me. I'm her little feet -- jumping up dozens of times a day to get her things. If she gave ME the silent treatment, I'd consider myself blessed. ;)
"Yeah, thanks, mom. But I don't want to listen to that today." Then YOU get quiet. As we age (and, of course, dementia makes it allll worse!), we lose control of just about everything in our lives. Heck, I have to remind mom to wipe her butt. In fact? I have to remind her to put one foot in front of the other. (Parkinson's) If mom had too much cognizance, she'd probably be furious, too.
Patience. Inner strength. Exercise the stress away. If you HAVE to, when she's disrespecting you, remind her that all good things come from you right now. It works with dogs. ;) again
And, if I am blessed -- you are cursed.
One ray of hope: mom's dementia has ebbed/flowed/changed. For instance, she couldn't sleep. Now she can. She DEMANDED 'out of bed' at 5 AM. It was at THIS point she was at her worst in frame of mind. She doesn't do that anymore. Today? 9 AM.
As your mom's dementia progresses, and it always does, different parts of her brain will be effected. Whatever's 'in charge' now, probably won't be in charge too long.
*Shaking Head*
Earplugs??
I mean, sometimes you just have to laugh. ;)