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Can people who have dementia issues figure out themselves that they have dementia issues? Is this possible? She (my mum) knows that I'm thinking something's wrong with her, she's aware of me watching her. I want to sit her down and question her so bad, but I'm afraid she would get hurt emotionally. She's humming around the houses so much now. Jesus the humming is sounding like a scary old women in a hunted house. I can't believe this is happening. She eats terrible. How is she able to drive and work at her job? Do people with dementia have the ability to still have a job???? Can people with dementia still able to drive a car? My mum does both......she gets home with no problems. She wakes up on time. She's 73 and moving good but I still see something wrong. Thank you

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The suspicions could be a paranoia which is not related to dementia, and might be treatable with psych meds. Ask her doctor about mental health issues..
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I can only speak to my experience with my dad. He's 85 and began to show slight symptoms of dementia about 4 to 5 years ago. It has been a very gradual decline for him. I been told and have read that people can plateau and then fall off very rapidly. I think as dads decline began he seemed to have a slight acceptance that his memory was getting bad. He is much worse now with very little short term memory. It's impossible to reason with him or convince him he is impaired and needs any help. He will get very angry if we do too much correcting or suggest that he and mom need help.
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@MaggieMarshall. What I didn't mention Maggie is that for the past two years my mom has a very strong belief that someone is coming into the home. She believes there are cameras inside the house this person listens to every thing we say. The last few months she brought a new alarm system and chanced the codes twice already. She bought new locks and hatchets for the front & back doors. Just last week she wanted to install cameras on the home but the company told her she can only have either the alarm or the cameras, you can't have both.....I'm not saying that she has this dementia fully, I'm just thinking that maybe these are early symptoms. Thank you
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Based on my mom's experience, I would say that people with dementia can figure out that something is wrong with them - but it might probably be the last thing they want to admit. Your mom sounds like she is experiencing some serious stress, but it may not be dementia. Maybe you could keep a journal to keep track of all the odd behavior you are witnessing and discuss it with the doctor.
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You said she is diabetic. They do get weird if there meds aren't correct or maybe she isn't taking them. I think u need to take her to the doctor that monitors her. She needs to be tested.
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Someone with a job where their routine has been the same for many years is probably capable of continuing for a surprisingly long time. With dementia, often older memory is still there for quite a long time. They don't make fresh memory well, which means they usually can't learn anything new.
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I can attest to that, partsmom. My 94 year old mother with dementia (not severe at this point, but bad enough) has been making her own cup of instant coffee for so long that assembling the ingredients, filling the kettle, shutting off the stove when it comes to a boil, pouring the right amount of water to leave room for cream, etc., is all second nature to her. I'm always concerned that she'll get a steam burn or leave the stove on, but she never skips a beat. Other aspects of her life? She's more like a 4 year old and in some cases a toddler!
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Maybe it's time for mom to have a complete medical workup, there could be something medical going on. Some disorders can mimic dementia or mental illness. Keep a notebook, write down each incident where mom is not 'herself', you will have it to refer back to should you need to. Do other people see her changing? Definitely speak with the doctor and encourage her to go in for a check up.
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Mom with alteizmers replied, "I don't know any better."
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Pamstegma, how could you possibly give an answer like that to someone? Elderly try to hide their declining functions. Rich 2015 was trying for support. It sounds to me like his mother IS declining. I cannot believe how stubborn my parents are. My mother refuses hearing aids and glaucoma operation to clear her vision. My Dad will soon be blind with glaucoma from diabetes, and refuses to change his diet. I am only here with them as their daughter, but mom is very cold towards me and dad is insulting. Everyday day I swallow hurts, that are accumulating into resentment. I try to make sure their blood levels don't get too high, but they want to eat whatever they want. I have a sister who never helps out, and she is their favorite. Since mom had a stroke, I have been here 24/7 doing everything in the house and outside. Since I am retiring, this is not how I wished to spend my life. I have no social life. They refuse to have help come into the house. Any suggestions from anyone's?
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