My dad has dementia and is in memory care. His behaviors seem to have improved. Is this normal?

Whats changed in Memory Care? Is he eating regularly now vs beforehand he wasn't? Getting meds administered on time regularly now vs beforehand?

You give no info on dad in your profile or in your post. How far along is he in the dementia process? Moderate, advanced? How old is he and how long has he been living in MC?

Many factors contribute to dementia but most importantly, the behaviors are not linear. Meaning the elder will act differently from day to day. My mother had days where she was practically incoherent and other days where she was acting almost totally normal. Ups and downs galore, which is very common with dementia.

If your dad was living alone, having erratic blood sugars from not eating, highly confused from too much stimuli and too many responsibilities he was facing, be may have been exhibiting more severe symptoms as a result. If he's in a managed care environment which is shrunken down, he may feel safer and less overwhelmed in general, eating more regularly, and feeling more grounded, at least for now. All bets could be off for tomorrow.

Have a chat with the staff and/or the nurse on duty to see what they're observing with dad. Speak with his doctor too....have some new meds been prescribed recently that may be contributing to his more lucid state of mind?

What I found with mom was a roller coaster of changing behaviors, emotions and reactions in general as she traveled the dementia journey in MC for just under 3 years. I never knew what to expect from one day to the next with her, which made the whole situation that much harder to deal with.

Wishing you the best of luck.

This is normal, those with dementia will have lucid clarity. People often have moments when they remember past things and speak about them.
Enjoy the moments of clarity, and journal about it.

I agree with lealonnie1, it can be an emotional roller coaster. My mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2021.

Best of luck

My 96 year old dad went to memory care 1-1/2 years ago and has been so stable. What a relief and a nice change. We've actually had some nice conversations. Last couple visits, he's starting to fixate again. Its very exhausting. The ED at the memory care says he's having more of a mix of good days and bad days than before. His geriatric psych says his dementia is getting worse. They do not want to increase his meds - doses are already fairly high. This is such a roller coaster. Hoping we have a better visit soon.

Helplessinnc,

It's normal, the 'new normal.' Dementia manifests in varying ways but the one predictable change is that it worsens with time.

I watch my beloved mother go through similar changes. We talk daily on the phone; sometimes she sounds like her old self, but I have to keep the convo focused to not lose her or make things too complex for her. Other times, she has staff call me and is barely coherent, just enough to recognize that she's losing her grip and experiencing anxiety. I'm mostly able to talk her out of it and direct her toward her room for some time without all the stimulus of other residents and the staff on the MC unit.

Enjoy the lucid times and make the most of them while you prepare yourself for the changes to come. It's very hard to watch our parents fail and diminish in their capacities. You have the sympathy and support of many on this forum.

I wish you strength.

The structured nature of MC is likely helping him.

Yes my wife has dementia. And when having a bad spell and totally living in the past. If I talk to her carefully and I can bring her back to the present. I have to be patient and just not tell her she is wrong but work through events chronologically to bring her back to the present.

I was told by the ALF where my brother was that it has long been known that things may improve mentally with an entry into ALF. There is always assistance available. There is socialization that oft times has been missing from a senior's life for some time. But MOST of all there is the fact that at this point there is often a POA taking over financial. And this was the single thing that relieved my brother the most. He was able to express this. No bills, no worries about bills getting paid, about receipts and shopping and so on. I gave him a monthly accounting of his accounts. He kept in a notebook and had his own small spending account. He said he was so relieved, at age 85, to be able to just relax and forget about all the responsibility. He had Lewy's. There was a dramatic decrease in any hallucinations without any medications. He died of sepsis after a year in ALF because he his and ignored a non -healing sore on his shin, so I only know that first year was a great relief and showed improvement in his condition. It is to be noted that this can happen with Lewy's. It goes up and down, where Alzheimer's is a slow stairstep at a time down, with some leveling on some steps but a certain projectary downward.

Routine, routine, routine.

Your dad must be in a great MC with structure and lots of socialization. My mother was in such a place, and the structure made her so much more stable because she didn't have to think about how to do anything or when to do it anymore.

Once in a MC facility he is on a routine that he can count on so there is less uncertainty to clutter his mind.
If he was living on his own before it is also possible that he is eating better, getting more exercise and being around people he is more engaged and socially active.
Enjoy this time while it lasts.

I'm happy for you. Thank God for a small blessings.

A new medication? Time to meet the neurologist for a new evaluation?

Helplessinnc: Perchance something has changed in his Memory Care facility, e.g. his nutrition has changed/his appetite is better, medication(s) changes and other things. You won't know what is different unless you speak to the staff.

This is wonderful! Be happy and enjoy his well-being for as long as it lasts.

I agree, if he was living alone prior he probably wasn't eating or eating correctly. Living alone with no socialization can make dementia worse. I would say that the regular meals, meds given on time and the socialization have helped. Enjoy it.