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A few days later she asked me where that man who used to visit was and I told her he died, but didn't mention their relationship. Was this the right thing to do? She wasn't upset.

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You answered her and she was satisfied with that answer and she wasn't upset; I can't imagine anything going better, can you? Why go into all the particulars which would upset her and she couldn't/wouldn't retain, anyway?

I am so sorry for your loss, but sounds as though this went luckily very well.
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Reply to AlvaDeer
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I think it was kind of you to spare her the grief at her age.
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Reply to Tiger8
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She wasn't upset, so it was no big deal you told her. She didn't even realize their relationship!

My condolences on the loss of your dear dad.
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Reply to lealonnie1
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Sharon,

I’m sorry for the loss of your dad.

All you did was answer her question. She may ask again or even call your dad by name and ask about him. Dementia is not always even and consistent. There is nothing to be gained by upsetting your GM, although you might wish you could mourn the loss of your dad with her.

It is an individual decision. I think it depends on the connection, the circumstances, the timing.

Your GM must be around 100 years old. No doubt she has lost many loved ones in her long life.

Do make time to mourn your father regardless of what you share with your GM.
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Reply to 97yroldmom
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Do you think it would have been the right thing to tell her that her son is dead? All that would have achieved is to make her agitated and probably hysterical. Why put someone her age through that?
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Reply to BurntCaregiver
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Terenye Jul 1, 2025
I agree with burntcaregiver. Imagine reliving the most horrific pain of learning one of your most special loved ones has died over and over. That would be torture. I find most people with dementia will accept a simple explanation of where and what that loved one who is deceased is doing. I would always tell one of my patients her mother was either cooking breakfast or cooking dinner depending on the time of day. Make it believable, if Mother hated cooking and would not be caught in the kitchen ever, think of another excuse.
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It is ok. What you did was fine.

We did not mention to Mom (dementia) when my brother died but he never visited either.
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Reply to brandee
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I think you did the right thing. I struggled with telling lies to my demented husband and I try not to. But I’ve been thinking of an old family friend with dementia whose wife died. As we gathered in his son’s home after the funeral, he kept saying that he had to go home because his wife would be worried about him. And they kept telling him that she had died and so he relived that grief over and over. I don’t know that there’s a good answer for this dilemma, jpkopbut that didn’t seem to do him any good.
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Reply to BELyons
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MiaMoor Jun 29, 2025
It didn't do him any good, but they did what they thought was best. That's all any of us can do.
In that situation, I would have said that she's fine and resting while she's waiting for him, so she doesn't want him there just yet, and that he'll see her soon. That would have eased my conscience about telling an outright lie, and also helped to ease his mind.
I don't like lying, but I hate to hurt someone I love even more.
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So sorry for your loss.

You did the right thing. My father lives in his own world where my mother is not dead. I don’t talk about her to him anymore. Recently he couldn’t finish the cookies I had brought him and he told me to give them to mom. I just said okay.
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Reply to Hothouseflower
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I am sorry for your loss.

In my experience, when someone suffers from dementia, of course if it is advanced, they would not comprehend news of a family member's passing.

You answered her correctly and she accepted it without a problem. Leave it there. The question is bound to come up again. You are the best judge to decide how to respond knowing about the cognitive abilities of your grandmom.
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Reply to Samad1
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I'm so sorry for your loss.
You handled the situation both sensibly and with compassion. You will probably be asked again and have the pain of going through this again. I'm sorry.

At some point, your grandmother may remember her son and ask about him specifically. However you choose to deal with this, as long as it's done with kindness, it will be the right thing. One helpful response in that situation is, "You'll see him soon, Grandma."

It hurts when we can't share important moments and feelings with those we love. Please be kind to yourself.
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