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She's diagnosed moderate to severe cognitive dysfunction, so the short-term memory is gone, but still has some mobility. I have a camera on her to keep an "eye out" when I'm working or running errands, and currently in the process of finding PCAs to come in.., but just today, she started with this non-stop monotone "help" "help" here and there, sometimes often and sometimes only once every few minutes, but when I returned from work she was suddenly all smiles and doing fine so I'm baffled and not sure if there's anything I should do? Has anyone else experienced anything like this?

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My 90 yo mom did that recently after hip fracture surgery. Over and over. Likely some sort of postop delirium. Even now in rehab she can be relatively fine then when someone is trying to move her she goes into help me mode. she has anxiety but also wonder if some sort of brain change.
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Idkanything 1 hour ago
Mother also had to get a hip fixed recently, and both her doctor and the surgeon shared their concerns because anesthesia is particularly difficult on the elderly. They warned us that the effects can be damaging because they aren't as able as a young person to process it out of their bodies as quickly.
It's so hard watching them struggle, isn't it?
Thank You for Sharing 😊
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It is very common. She can form one thought really when she sees someone, and that's that she needs help. Her brain can't honestly focus on what she needs help with, or why. Nor can it compute to explain. It just takes on this repetitive pattern. You will begin to note it, in later dementia, in other things, such as a sort of mindless picking at sheets and blankets, etc. She will, if you converse with her, be almost certainly totally unaware she is even making these repetitive patterns of sound and motion. Think of it as an anxious young grandkid visiting you, with his/her knee bouncing up and down with total unawareness it is even happening.
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Idkanything May 15, 2025
Thank You So Much for responding with such reassurance! You "hit the nail on the head" with her being unaware she's doing it and she's been picking at her lap blanket for some time now, caressing it with her hand mindlessly and sometimes burying her face in it like she's going to cry (but never does.)
I'm So Grateful for this forum - came across it a couple years ago when first starting this journey - and I truly appreciate everyone's input, Thank You! 🙏
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An elderly family friend did this. "Help, help, help," all day long except for when she was sleeping.

She had many friends, family members, hired aides and a husband, all taking care of her around the clock until the end, so she certainly had help. We never knew why she got stuck on that word! I suspect it was because when she was a child, her parents told her to call for help if she needed it, and the poor lady correctly assessed her situation. She truly DID need help to fix her brain, but with dementia, she was not going to get that kind of help and probably knew it. She'd been a very intelligent and educated lady.
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Idkanything May 15, 2025
Awww, lucky lady to have so many good people around taking care of her! Thank You for sharing this because if /she/ was saying it, (with all that care and attention,) then it's more likely it really is just this horrible dis-ease called Dementia.
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I can't answer your question. But my mom is completely the opposite. She's fine when I'm not there. Needs no help. Isn't suffering any pain. But when I visit her alone, that's all she does is whimper and fake hyperventilate and complain about how much pain she's in. Staff walks in, she's fine again. When my brother and sister visit, none of that. When they visit with me. None of that. Only when I am there alone.
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Idkanything May 15, 2025
Ugh, I'm so sorry to hear that! Sounds like there might be some narcissistic tendencies there. I hope you're not taking it personally!
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Vocalizations like this often go with dementia, who hasn't visited a nursing home and encountered the person calling for the nurse or asking to go to the bathroom while staff (seemingly callously) ignores them? With my mom it was either calling my name or asking "turn me over, can you turn me over, please?" over and over and over.... Of course I checked what whether she needed anything but often it was a game of twenty questions to discover what, if anything, she needed (because repositioning was seldom the answer).
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Idkanything May 15, 2025
Thank You for the reassurance! I haven't been to any nursing homes, just seen 'em on TV and in movies, but you're absolutely correct that trying to figure out ANYTHING regarding their poor lost minds is such a struggle!
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Unfortunately many people with cognitive problems get stuck in a "loop".
It can be a way to get the help that is needed.
They "know" that if they say "help" there will be a response. You will come and see what needs to be done.
Most of the time this is based on...
You are out of sight so there is fear that you are not going to return. You are the safe person, a constant they can rely on.

Sometimes the word or sound is a comfort to them. My Husband made noises, soft moaning kind of noises. When he was excited or agitated the noise would increase or it would become faster.

In most cases this is anxiety driven.
Medications can help.
Finding other tasks to distract her from the fact that you are out of the room.

I am glad you are looking to have someone stay with her.
If you have the ability to talk to her with the cameras reassure her that she is safe and you will be home soon. Try that while you are home with her, leave the room for a while or go outside for a bit when she starts calling out talk to her see if it helps.
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Idkanything May 15, 2025
Thank You for taking the time to respond. I appreciate all that you shared as mother also makes odd moaning noises, some not so pleasant, but it makes sense that repeating it may just be a comfort to her since she doesn't appear distressed.
I have tried the stepping out of the room a couple times now and returning when I hear her say "help," but each time I ask if she's okay, she just smiles a big smile and tells me everything's fine, why do I ask? *facepalm*
Thanks again for your help!
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Anxiety.
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My Aunt with advancing dementia started to do that. It was a phase she went through between her moderate and advanced stages. She lived with her sister (they lived together their entire lives) and she was never in situations where she actually needed help. She even said it out (loudly) in public, which once made for an awkward encounter with the police at her bank.

Her doctor put her on meds for anxiety and depression and she stopped saying it.

Dementia robs people of a lot of things, and one is their ability to interpret and express what's going on in their own bodies and minds. Meds will most likely help your Mom, and if she's already on meds, she may not be on the ones that are best for her.
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Idkanything May 15, 2025
Thank You for responding and sharing your Aunt's story. Mother IS on an anti-anxiety medication but I will talk to the doctor about it.
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