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Mom in last stage of dementia, she’s still mobile on her own slightly while inside and with assistance outside my parents house. Everything else she shows in the last stage for sure.


In the last 2 weeks her new thing we’ve noticed is she’s scared to death to step off a curb, walk down a step, walk across pine straw etc. with assistance. When riding in a car she squeals because she thinks we’re going to run off the road in a curve or we’re going to hit the on coming traffic. At night it’s even worse. I’ve also noticed she points because she thinks she sees something but nothing is actually there.


Anyone ran into these issue? Anyone know why or just another part of this awful disease that’s unexplainable....

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Yes, just another part of the disease. It effects everyone differently. Some knowing no fear of things they should fear and some afraid of everything. It is also normal after a fall to do the little-bitty-steps thing, and to be afraid. Fear of cars comes to those of us in right mind with age, as well. Everything seems very uncertain. Some sink into paranoia and distrust everything; some trust everyone they meet to their own detriment. It is all a part of it, the changing mind, and there is very little to do about it. Some on the forum claim that CBD oil helps; it may be worth a try, but would pass it by the doctor first.
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Deemom, not sure what you mean by "last stage" of dementia? Or just that she's had dementia for quite a while? Sounds like she's having hallucinations that can be part of dementia, Parkinsons', Lewy Body, sundowner's syndrome (look these up on this site for more detailed info). The fear when mobile could signal vision changes that she can't understand or express, or cognitive change. I personally do not have experience with medications to address these symptoms but I know that shortly many will contribute helpful information. Wishing you success in getting answers!
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As the disease progresses people lose their depth perception.
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Here is a video featuring expert Teepa Snow. The video quality is poor but the advice is excellent.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=11&v=ZqbxFD2-lsQ
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It's the disease. Her brain can non longer handle something as 'simple' as seeing curb and realizing she is going to have to step up or down to navigate.

Mother has just begun doing this. She can handle 'slopes' or handicapped ramps, but a true 'step' will just have her in a panic. She knows that one more serious fall, she's in a NH.
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I had some problems with Luz stepping down from a curb but had no problems with steps in rehab. She would step up on a curb just like she should, no problem.
For a period of about a week she would go all around the house until she got to the bathroom and would not step into that room. That finally went away.
On more than one occasion she tried to open the car door while I was doing over thirty mph. That only happened about three times and she quit but I worried it would come back.
She was nonverbal,so if she had other concerns it was difficult to tell unless she made her moaning sound.
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