She will walk back into the room and then say that she has to go back to the bathroom. I go through rolls of toilet paper in a single day. Her pockets will be full of unused toilet paper torn into sheets and folded. It's getting very expensive.
Can you put out less TP?? So she only has access to a smaller amount on every trip? You should feel lucky that it's UNUSED TP. LOL.
Your profile says you can't afford to place her. It's not about what you can afford because this is not your bill to pay unless you are filthy rich. It's about what she can afford. And if she can't afford it, she can go on medicaid and they will use her social security check and whatever other money she has left for her care. So if you are burnt out and ready for a change, find a place that accepts medicaid and get that ball rolling.
The internet is chockfull of references of similar behavior.
My husband folds then hides the folded tissues, paper towels, and napkins. He's starting in on an old bible that is losing its pages.
I find them folded mostly and sometimes wet and balled up in a variety of sizes. Some are smaller than a pea and others go up to golf ball sizes. I dread to think how he's moistening them.
He can spend a lot of time folding and refolding laundry (great, I say) but I have to check his hands first because he also tears at his cuticles and skin on his fingers. As a result he leaves bloody marks at times on freshly cleaned laundry. Thank goodness for peroxide.
What's worse is that this behavior seems to be happening at the same time that he's become too frugal with using toilet paper on his butt. Ah, me.
Today I’m going to try something new for both of us. I’m preparing a large shoe box, his designated fun box, plus a couple of plastic bags of things to change off.
My plan is to fill his fun box with small colorful fabrics. Maybe some of those different colored microfiber dusting cloths, or old wash cloths. Maybe a couple of small different colored children's socks, (Goodwill, Salvation Army purchases). I have to keep in mind that they too may disappear.
Another day (another week, another box?). Maybe I’ll put in nuts and bolts, velcro, different colored nylon tie wraps.
Maybe I’ll mess up his tool box come to think of it, or a draw, or even my sewing box for him to put in order.
My 90 year old mom would do the same . Always , she would shred it up , while she would go in the bathroom @ 2 am, 2:10 am, 2:30 am -sometimes until 5 am. She suffered from sundowners. ( she’s peacefully resting now as she recently passed away 2/4/2022) It was bad during the start of the pandemic too , when getting toilet paper was tough & expensive. My husband just started leaving partial rolls in the bathroom for her . We removed the extra rolls from under the sink & locked them up in our pantry. Just do the best you can. As frustrating as it seems. 🍀🤗🐞
While you can’t talk her out of it, she will stop it after awhile on her own as she progresses in her dementia. My aunt did. The walking back and forth is good for her. It is an activity she is compelled to do and at least she isn’t flushing it and causing plumbing fees. I finally had to buy aunt a commode that advertised it would flush golf balls. Try to put the best spin possible on it for your own mental health and know that it will pass.
She might be willing to fold wash cloths or napkins or hand towels or match socks to get some of the desire to fold out of her system. See if that cuts down trips to the bathroom. My aunt liked to snap green beans, shell peas, clean dried beans. Lots of things to try. She did a less and less acceptable job as time went by but the object was to keep her busy with an activity she enjoyed. Signing cards is another one I just remembered. Some days she signed her maiden name.
Remember when the pandemic started and people were hoarding t.p. Funny how it's a priority but then............imagine life without it. Oh, the horror.
My LO use to do that, her doctors told me that medications sometimes help did not in my LO case.
When it comes to dementia I have been told often times only thing you can do is live with the behavior or place them. You will rarely get them to change their behavior.
Take the toilet paper holder down and get a large woven basket to put beside the toilet. At the end of the day, empty her pockets and fill the basket. It's a win-win!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Have you ever had a cat shred an entire roll of toilet paper for play, and you thought it was cute? Or, you forgave the cat?
As long as I am not clogging the toilet, I plan on using as much t.p. as I want or need, my whole life long. This is not something I will be trying to ration or save money on, now or in the future.
I suggest that family try to save on cigarettes, alcohol, electricity, water, and vacations, rather than on my own money being spent on my own t.p.
OMG! I had a cat that shredded the toilet paper while it was still packaged. That little demon would get me every time I went to the store. If I didn't put the toilet paper up, I would start hearing that old familiar sound. Nothing was more annoying than trying to wipe with toilet paper with convenient holes in it. UUUgggghhh!
Your profile says you can't afford to place her. It's not about what you can afford because this is not your bill to pay unless you are filthy rich. It's about what she can afford. And if she can't afford it, she can go on medicaid and they will use her social security check and whatever other money she has left for her care. So if you are burnt out and ready for a change, find a place that accepts medicaid and get that ball rolling.
Good luck
My husband folds then hides the folded tissues, paper towels, and napkins. He's starting in on an old bible that is losing its pages.
I find them folded mostly and sometimes wet and balled up in a variety of sizes. Some are smaller than a pea and others go up to golf ball sizes. I dread to think how he's moistening them.
He can spend a lot of time folding and refolding laundry (great, I say) but I have to check his hands first because he also tears at his cuticles and skin on his fingers. As a result he leaves bloody marks at times on freshly cleaned laundry. Thank goodness for peroxide.
What's worse is that this behavior seems to be happening at the same time that he's become too frugal with using toilet paper on his butt. Ah, me.
Today I’m going to try something new for both of us. I’m preparing a large shoe box, his designated fun box, plus a couple of plastic bags of things to change off.
My plan is to fill his fun box with small colorful fabrics. Maybe some of those different colored microfiber dusting cloths, or old wash cloths. Maybe a couple of small different colored children's socks, (Goodwill, Salvation Army purchases).
I have to keep in mind that they too may disappear.
Another day (another week, another box?). Maybe I’ll put in nuts and bolts, velcro, different colored nylon tie wraps.
Maybe I’ll mess up his tool box come to think of it, or a draw, or even my sewing box for him to put in order.
Wish me luck.
It was bad during the start of the pandemic too , when getting toilet paper was tough & expensive.
My husband just started leaving partial rolls in the bathroom for her .
We removed the extra rolls from under the sink & locked them up in our pantry.
Just do the best you can. As frustrating as it seems.
🍀🤗🐞
Try to put the best spin possible on it for your own mental health and know that it will pass.
She might be willing to fold wash cloths or napkins or hand towels or match socks to get some of the desire to fold out of her system. See if that cuts down trips to the bathroom. My aunt liked to snap green beans, shell peas, clean dried beans. Lots of things to try. She did a less and less acceptable job as time went by but the object was to keep her busy with an activity she enjoyed.
Signing cards is another one I just remembered. Some days she signed her maiden name.
When it comes to dementia I have been told often times only thing you can do is live with the behavior or place them. You will rarely get them to change their behavior.
Take the t.p. tissues from her pockets and place in the basket, on a regular basis.
As long as I am not clogging the toilet, I plan on using as much t.p. as I want or need, my whole life long. This is not something I will be trying to ration or save money on, now or in the future.
I suggest that family try to save on cigarettes, alcohol, electricity, water, and vacations, rather than on my own money being spent on my own t.p.
It is a personal choice.