Hi, My dad and I have been caring for my mother who has FTD (Frontotemporal Dementia) behavioral variant. It's very challenging, she used to be very abusive back in 2016, saying rude things to others, accusing others and behaving inappropriately, very selfish only care about herself, often bully others, and now she talks non stop, I can't get any work done. She's been like that talking rubbish non stop since last year 2020. She does not know and not orient well to date and time. Everytime we eat, she always spills something. She often forgot what food we're gonna have for dinner even though I just said that to her few hours ago. Since last year I noticed her temporal seems to be affected. It seems like her dementia has progressed to middle stage where not only her frontal but also her temporal get affected and she seems to have early alzheimer and perhaps other dementia. She also has delusions and hallucinations now. Mentioning she heard things or seeing things. Often nowadays she does not understand words meaning, misplaced words sometimes, becomes hyperreligion, not recognizing/understand wrongly some words, object on instagram, youtube, newspaper and TV. Sorry for the long post. Everyone in the house completely burned out caring for her. Anyone knows how long this non stop talking last? Also, how long is it for FTD usually from first symptoms till death?
Thank you for your reply
Thank you for all your suggestion and resources, we will look into that. I wish you all the best!
It's been a frustrating year for me and my dad too at home with her constant ramblings non stop from the moment she wakes up till she goes to bed. It's really bad, we can't get any work done here. Everytime she rambles, she wants attention and answers; even worse she will force people to do what she said even though it's not logical and reasonable, if refused she will lash out and behave really nasty.
I really wish this phase will end soon. Any rough ideas or approximation perhaps how long this phase last then transition to non verbal stage?
As to your individual limitations in caring for a person it does sound as though you have just bumped up against them, and it is time for the family to consider placement now. Placement is never made easier by a diagnosis that causes a lot of acting out, and often medications are required that give you the devil and the deep blue options of someone who is disruptive (which they cannot have in LTC) and someone who is drugged into what family's complain is a "zombie state".
I am sorry to tell you what likely you already know, that there are no good options and there is likely no relief for your poor Mom other than the peace of death. I am so very sorry for all your family is going through, and I wish you the best of luck. Placement is very difficult; most easily done from a hospital and with the help of Social Services after a family refused to accept the patient back into the home because of both a physcial and mental inability to care for the patient. If your mother acts out with violence, and your family has discussed the need for LTC, call the EMS and have Mom taken to the hospital; tell Social Services immediately upon admission that she cannot be cared for in your home anymore; don't listen to the platitudes of "We can help" and "We can make this work". They can't and they won't.
I wish I had better options for you and hope someone else does.
I recently went to FL to visit my aunts. On the day I arrived the one with dementia literally started a new behavior, which was to scream "Help me!" randomly and often all day long. My cousin (her caregiver) told me she hadn't been doing it before. She did go through the non-stop talking phase, and still does everything you described your mom doing. She went through a phase where she wouldn't (or couldn't) watch any of the old musical dvd's we bought for her and we thought it was because she couldn't keep up with the plot or dialog. Now, several years later she watches one every night without interruption. Often, the same one. Who knows why it's different now.
I'm sorry, there is no predicting if your mother's dementia will quicken your her departure. Many on this forum wish we could look into a crystal ball and know this. In the meantime, Teepa Snow has some very good videos on YouTube about dementia and age-related decline. The best thing caregivers can do is to educate themselves so they can be as helpful and realistic as possible, for their LO's sake and their own well-being. May you gain wisdom and peace in your heart.