Mum unbelievably slow at walking. Is this another sign of dementia?

Do you have a diagnosis for a specific kind of dementia, kazzaa? Strong loss of depth perception is an early (and continuing) feature of some dementias. The door threshold between two rooms may appear to be a huge step, or appear to be knee high. Pebbles on a walkway may appear to be boulders. If the walls and the floor are a similar color it may be hard to judge how wide the hall is. All of these things can be frightening, and would naturally make someone want to go very slowly. It might also make someone fear going for walks.

Extremely poor depth perception is only one of many reasons a person with dementia may slow down, and it is more prevalent in certain types of dementias than in others. But it is probably worth being aware of.

If the slowness is related to dementia, then age has nothing to do with it. It could hit at 55 or 75 or not hit until 90. Dementia changes the normal aging progression.

JessieBelle's approach -- to allow extra time, and to accept the slowness -- seems the most kind and also most practical, to me.

I recall one morning when we were running late I was trying to reassure my husband. 'It's OK honey. If we don't dawdle we will make it on time." He gave a pitiful groan. "But all I know how to do is dawdle!" Poor guy. He recognized how slow he was. I didn't usually do for him things he could do for himself, but in those tense situations I'd say, "Just because we have a deadline today, how about if I help you put your shirt on?"

dementia patients walk with an ever increasing shuffle. end stage dementia is some terminal s**t . be nice to those people cause they aint going to be around for long.

My mother has been walking slower and slower. I time things now to give her five minutes to get to the car. I think it is a combination of things for her -- mobility problems, vision loss, age, and loss of timing that comes with dementia. It is hard for me to walk so slow. I find she does move faster if I walk in front of her. However, if I walk directly in front of her, she stops because she feels she is going to walk in to me. She can't judge the distance between herself and me. I walk a bit off to the side.

I've seen shows on TV that poke fun of old people moving slowly. I don't like shows that poke fun. It does let us know, though, that it isn't unusual for old people to slow down... a lot.

Just thought about one thing that bothers me some. Quite often nice people hold the door for my mother. She will be 20-30 feet away and they are holding the door open. I smile and tell them she'll be there in a minute. One thing I've learned is that people who hold the door for old people have a lot of patience. What nice people.

JB dont know how old your mum is but i dont consider 75 old my mum takes baby steps almost waddles than walking? scary stuff BUT having said that she had five kids and NEVER looked after her weight or EVER excercised so I guess this is the outcome. They say now they can perdict if someone will get dementia by how slow they walk!

Yes tova youre right my mum refuses to see doc "theyre useless" thats all I get. And like your mum she was always keen to go every month and get checked? I think shes in denial and is afraid now of doctors as they will know shes not right. Its just so sad and how scary it must be for them knowing something is wrong and afraid to deal with it. How did your mum react do they even register or just go into denial? I know its dementia and just waiting to have it confirmed makes me so mad that I knew more than her doc and had to fight and now go private to get this investigated a disgrace. Her doc is now being funny with me I guess embarrassed that I didnt go to med school but could tell a huge difference between depression and dementia? Anyway at least am getting this seen to slowly but her geristrician is listening ive been through hell trying to get this sorted have even been called a nutcase by my own family and even kicked out of the house NOW they all feel like crap because I wasnt raving I was right! Thankgod for this forum it just confirms my fears and am now convinced its dementia OR im a chinaman!!

We believe she does realize what is happening. She seems to be trying to fight it, for now anyway.

My 92-y/o 'legally blind' uncle had a recent fall and I did not find him until the next morning. Lucid, nothing broken, 1 week in hospital and then home with some home health care. He now uses his cane religiously. However, his gait is slower than a turtle now, and it takes him a long time to do simple things. He seems quite lucid, so I don't think he has dementia. But in the past 2 weeks since he has been home with aides and therapists in & out all day, he seems very grumpy/nasty to me. His hearing seems to have worsened also. Other than that he appears to be quite self-sufficient as long as there is enough medicine/food/meals in the house, and I can leave him alone for a couple of days (which I had to do because I've been sick). Lots of phone calls to keep in touch though. I also just installed the medic alert system and he wears the bracelet. Next week we have an appt with the ear doctor - I'm hoping if he can hear better, his balance will improve also.

I hope this isn't out in left field

Our doctors recently suggested that E be tested for something called, "normal pressure hydrocephalus." Google it. It's kinda complicated, but if her other symptoms match those that predict this condition, it might be worth having the doctors test for it.

Is it lack of strength, or problems with balance? A walker or cane might help. Get her evaluated by a PT, maybe.