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I tell him it's not healthy you could get sick I give him cigerarettes. There are just timed and when he goes outside, I'm always with him. He'll try to pick one up I tell him that's been in someone's mouth and that it's nasty and can make him sick. 🤢

TamTam01: Speak to his neurologist.
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Reply to Llamalover47
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I'm wondering where all these cigarette butts are coming from he "finds on the ground?" Especially in a residential neighborhood?

Or is he finding them and picking them up off city streets, when you are out shopping or errands, or things away from home?

I'd try tell him, "If I see you pick up another dirty butt, you won't get any cigarettes anymore." Have a very mad tone of voice. He's used to you letting it slide, knowing he gets fresh cigs from you. Worth a shot.

Good idea to supervise him when smoking. Very tolerant and generous of you. It would be wise to get a fire extinguisher for your house, if you don't already have one.
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Reply to Dawn88
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You're frustrated because you're fighting a battle you can't win. He can't make sense of what you're asking him to do and/or remember why it's not healthy to do so. I like the idea of having him wear gloves or carrying a bucket to put the butts in and then washing hands when you get back inside.

I agree with the person who said that letting him have the pleasure of smoking at this stage of his dementia (fully supervised of course) is better than trying to get him to quit. I'm letting my husband eat all the bacon he wants - it's more important to me that he enjoy what's left of his life, rather than worry about prolonging what is already a difficult existence with a downward trajectory.

The best thing you can do for your mental health is to accept his limitations and adapt how you interact with him. That's not easy, but for the best for both of you in the long run.
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Reply to pamela78702
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Mom liked picking up pinecones. We gave her a bucket to put them in.
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Reply to brandee
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A problem with letting someone with dementia smoke is that they may not handles the cigarettes, matches, or lighters properly and could set themselves or wherever they are on fire.
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Reply to MG8522
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Have him wear gloves when you go out.

And continue to let him smoke, for petesake. With dementia at play, extending their lives is not the goal. Only to make them happy and give them what they enjoy.

Best of luck.
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Reply to lealonnie1
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If he has dementia, save your breath. Nothing will stop him from picking up things and putting them in his mouth. He should not be smoking, so help him break the habit. Smoking affects circulation, and when circulation is cut off or slowed in the brain, it can cause a stroke and/or dementia. Caring for a stroke patient is difficult, and you wouldn’t like it. At all.
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Reply to Fawnby
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TamTam01 Dec 14, 2025
I know I've tried many many different ways to help him quit even when he didn't have dementia but nothing works.
Like I said he'll pick them up off ground if he doesn't have his own. Unfortunately 😔
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Giving someone cigarettes to smoke is far more unhealthy than letting him put a discarded one in his mouth.
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Reply to MG8522
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I doubt any of that computes for him, so basically, you just need someone with him at all times outside.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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TamTam01 Dec 14, 2025
Yes! I'm with him constantly but he picks them up I take it out of his hand and tried to explain how unhealthy it is to pick them up and put them in your hands and mouth and how unhealthy smoking is all together.
🥺
It's Soo hard because he doesn't remember 😥
I want him to quit so bad 😞
I called Dr see if can get something to help make him Quit.🙏
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