How can I handle a mother-in-law that gets irritated all the time?

Donna, when you post there are two levels. The first is the title that will come up on the site, and there is a strict limit on length. Then you move to the second level, where you post the story. If you put everything in the first level, the moderators will guess a title and then cut the rest off.

When you sort it out, you need to tell us if you are living in her house, she is living in your house, or both of you live separately. It makes a lot of difference to your options. Try again!

The woman has Dementia. I would not even try to explain things to her, lost cause. I found with Mom, reasoning went first followed by not being able to process or comprehend. I found that I or someone else would be talking to Mom and she would still be trying to process the first couple of words said and hadn't heard the rest of the sentence. And yes, they do act younger because the brain is dying. I feel, as time goes on besides losing their short term memory they lose their long term. They go back to their childhood. And yes, one day they seem OK, the next like a child. You need to realize that her brain is dying piece by piece. My Moms decline was monthly.

Your MIL gets irritated because she is feeling overwhelmed. She just can't process quickly enough what you are trying to tell her. I personally never explained anything to my Mom. I just took her to her appointments and let those testing her explain what was going on. I didn't even tell her she had an appointment until the day of and after we got in the car.

Everything you have said is normal for someone suffering from any sort of Dementia. When she questions or you need to explain something, less is best. We took Mom out with us a lot to eat. I never gave her more than 2 choices. Eventually, I just ordered what I knew she liked. Reading the menu was too much for her.

Donna, you stopped after the title of your post. Go back and begin again. Title "How can I handle an irritated MIL" Then below post your detailed question.

Continue please,, your post is cut off?