My Mother says the same thing over and over again and I wonder what the compassionate response is to these repetitive phrases?

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My Mother says the same thing over and over again and I wonder what the compassionate response is to these repetitive phrases?

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Do not feel 'stupid'. I agree with Sansnems it is irritating and tests your patience.
I agree,maybe ignore her.
Can't count how many times I put 'cotton in my ears'!! After a while, my husband stopped repeating because I stopped responding. Your mom probably does not know she is repeating. Patient forgets from one second to another. Nice to know that she is grateful. Irritating as it is, it is nice to know she is thankful.
We are all in this together. Keep calm and carry on.

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You're welcome Blackpines :~)
Next time it could well be you answering me :~) Such is the versatility of this great forum.
Keep hanging in and holding on, even if it's only by the nail of one pinky someone will be along directly to throw you a rope and give you a hug.
Great news my end :~) I've been trying since Mid Nov to get BIL to have a much needed fasting blood test. He's done it! A friend told him it might be a good idea so he did it!!!

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Initially, when I had my first suspicions about my mom's dementia, I slipped the nurse a note I had written about the behaviors & changes I had observed in mom and wrote on the envelope, "Please show this to the doctor before he sees mom." It was revealing! The doctor gave my mom the quick memory test, had her walk down the hall and back again and checked her gait and balance, asked her current event questions as well as checking her long term memory, and talked to her about the possibly positive effects that Aricept might have on her. It might be worth a try! Also, whenever your mom repeats herself, it might be less frustrating to keep repeating, "That's interesting" without making any further comments and then change the subject so you can help her get "unstuck"!

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take her out into the sunshine and fresh air so she can get her vitamin d, improve her mood, etc. and maybe she would reduce her repetitive conversations. there is a link between memory loss and vitamin d deficiency. so it is pertinent to get as much sunshine as you can on a regular basis in moderation we do about 15-20 minutes worth without sunblock as sunblock blocks out the essential nutrients we need from the sun's rays.

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Mother does that too. I hear the same stories about the same people over and over. I just say "well, fancy that" or "well, what do you know". She just wants a response, and there's no point in saying "I've heard this a hundred times before" (I'm only 59, but I have 5 kids and I NEVER remember what I've already told whom"..drives them nuts, but they TELL ME, so I know being reminded can be hurtful.) Gosh, at least she's saying something NICE :)

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my mother was the hilljack who outjacked all the other jacks . she was awesome , but im telling you , she was socially inept to say the least . in her last year of life , she was near blind and would eventually die from dementia -- with severe hallucinations for her last 90 days of life .
i was shocked at how many times she told me " thank you " in her last year of life . in hindsight , its because i respected her judgement so much that i let her final word trump all the other douches ( hospice losers ) in our life , and she appreciated having control over people who didnt know s@it from shinola ..
BUT , i understand .. we had a parrot and my demented ( bipolar , schitzo - affective , paranoid personality complex , mother in the home .
repetitiveness was so rampant that im sure i sounded like the parrot at times too ..

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Most elders, not ALL, do this. The best response is to change the subject.

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My Mother says the same thing over and over again and I wonder what the compassionate response is to these repetitive phrases?

37 Answers

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