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Me: Who do you think is bringing your newspaper to the front door?
Dad: It's the fellow who walked 3 small dogs. Yesterday he only had 2 dogs so he must have given one away.
Me: Why would he give away one of his dogs? [I knew who Dad was talking about, the fellow has 3 tiny Chihuahuas].
Dad: Someone probably wanted the dog.
Me: Dad, maybe that dog is older and unable to go out in such cold weather.
The conversation went on and on. I should have let it go :P
For example, I would not promise to take her to the grocery store the next day just because she wanted me to, because in the early stages, she might recall that the next day and say that I promised to take her and I didn't want her to feel I was lying to her. I would explain that we would go later, but no definite time.
Eventually, she progressed to have no memory of anything more than a few minutes ago, so it's not an issue now. She's in Memory Care, but I go along with just about anything she says, since she won't recall and there is no harm in it.
I just try to make her happy in the moment. And if she thinks her doctor sleeps on a couch in her lobby, then I smile and say that's nice. If she says her deceased father gave her a wheelchair, I say that's nice. I go along with anything really, because she can't accept anything different. There is no point to it.
As your mom progresses, you'll see how some things are futile and trying to correct someone with dementia isn't productive.