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A couple of weeks ago my 90 year old Mom started to cry as I was getting ready to leave after a visit. When asked what was wrong she said she just loved me. I live 15 minutes away and see her 4 times a week. She did the same thing with her nurse 2 days ago. When asked what was wrong, again she said that she loved me. She has had 2 mini strokes and does have dementia. She receives excellent care at a skilled nursing facility and aside from these episodes and a failing memory is doing great! Has anybody else dealt with this and if so, how did you manage? I have tried reassuring her and making her laugh, which worked in the short term.
Thank you in advance.

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My husband had a stroke and has bouts of crying at time he normally would not. I looked up information on emotional lability. In some stroke victims depending on what part of the brain may be affected by this. The emotions are so near the surface so now my husband cries if he sees a commercial and cry if it has even the slightest bit of emotion associated with it. He hates it but i don't make much of it so he's not embarrassed. I think if your mom cries because she loves you, that's a good thing. If we all could be so emotionally connected. Do follow up with her doctor thouhh because it jist may be depression. Hang in there.
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Depression is quite common following stroke. The protocol after my mom had a stroke (per her rehab center) was to start antidepressents. Another was added several months later when she went into nursing care following a broken hip. they have allowed her to be calm, happy and not agitated.

Is there a geriatric psychiatrist who visits the NH? You might want to have that person see your mom, ahd share this recent crying with her/him. Not all sadness is depression, but depression can affect one's health in many ways.
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My Mother did this in the beginning of staying at the nursing home for rehab. She was not used to her surroundings and the changes she was facing. Antidepressants have helped and knowing what to expect now and yet she has given up on therapy and refuses to do things only when she wants to. I am afraid she will ruin whatever muscles she had gained to regression. She won't sit up on her own or switch sides to give her bottom a break etc. She is in a whole new type of depression. Do not know how to reach her? She seems like she wants to give up.
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Mom is 91 has dementia and lately doesn't matter if she is having a good or bad day as soon as I put her to bed she starts crying.when I ask why she says I'm just sad but don't know why. Or I'm tired or I just love u. I thought mayb just something to do w sundowners
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If it's not related to medical condition/medication that needs changing, I'd wonder if she's thinking she may not see you again. Does it only happen when people she likes get ready to leave?

The last time I saw one of my most favorite people in the world, (my Great Grandpa), he cried as we were pulling out of the driveway. They'd always stood on their front porch and waved goodbye to us, always in good spirits after a nice visit. He was a tough guy, never saw him cry, or anything close to it. But he balled his eyes out as we were leaving that time, I think he did KNOW he wouldn't see us again. Years later, his DIL, my GMA started to do that too when we left. She started to stand at her front door with red wet eyes, and try to smile, as she waved goodbye. She did that the last 3 visits. I had a voice mail from her the day before she passed, that said "I called because I wanted you to know that I love, love, love you, baby girl." Not the usual type of message she'd leave. She had a major stroke a few hours later and passed the next morning.
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Yep, you have to understand that elders reverse to being child-like. The only thing I could do to calm my Mother down was to read scripture verses. That may help you.
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Crying releases toxins from the body. It feels good to cry. So let her cry, and when you return, she can cry again, but don't think she is doing "great". Dementia is a terminal illness and at 90 yrs. she is on borrowed time. Let her be who she is at this point in time, and you start letting go...
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I am crying reading this post. My Mom cried in the NH so much. I was so unprepared, it shattered my heart. She was never a cryer and pre-stroke she was a relatively crabby/unhappy person. She had a big personality change and was kind and loving to me. We went the anti-depressant route because it helped her. She has been gone a year now and I am grateful for the time I had with her in a calm place.
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My mom also started this a few years ago. When she felt overwhelmed, afraid, or maybe she didn't even know why she was crying. No one knows what goes on with dementia. Some people do well with antidepressants and others don't. My mom does a lot better with them. Hasn't happened in a long time because she is past that point but when it did, I would give hugs and try to redirect with location, conversation, magazines, people, etc. I don't know if there is an answer for this one except trying different things and patience. Good luck and God Bless.
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My mother has started to do this. She isn't depressed. She's getting more sentimental. Actually, I find myself crying, more. I'm not depressed but the situation with Mom sometimes just tires me out to the point where I feel weepy.

So, even though Mom wasn't one to cry, she will sometimes cry because she's happy,too, and never did that, before. Similar to the last post, I mean. Sometimes, I think she cries because she's glad to be alive another day (and she's not in any pain, so it's probably easier to be glad than if she was suffering).

Sometimes, when she cries and thanks me for all I do, I think it could be a combination of frustration that she can't do as much by herself as she used to and a little relief that I'm here to help her. She's aware of people who really have no-one at all and I think she feels grateful.

Also, anti-depressants are yet another pill to take. At 86, Mom has whittled herself down to three meds and not eager to change that formula, right now. I'm just pointing that out before someone writes to me to tell me how much she probably needs them.
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