I feel like I have read a lot of articles relating to confusion for dementia/Alzheimer patients. Patients who are in a memory facility still ask to go home. My question is my mom is still living at home, she was diagnosed 3 years ago and is still doing quite well. There are definitely more episodes of confusion lately, not thinking she is at home, etc. Her doctor recommended to us a family to keep mom in her home going forward, it's ok for short trips out to the store etc. but not for the entire day. Currently, mom is out 3 days a week at a sibling's home and then is taken back home, sibling stays for the night. Mom is in her home Thursday-Sunday with family and caretakers. We feel that it's good to get Mom out of the house during the week for a few days, exercise, and stimulation (she participates in household chores which she loves, she helps with laundry, and dishes) we try to keep her as busy as possible. She still uses her laptop, loves puzzles, and did some coloring for a while. Do folks agree or disagree that we are adding to her confusion by taking her out Monday-Wednesday? Thank you for your feedback.
Your question I would say is best answered by your own family. Every person suffering from dementia has his/her own identify and individual reactions; almost as individual as their own fingerprint. Over all and for the most part, the more advanced dementia becomes the more comfortable people are with a habitual routine that has few day to day, week to week, month to month changes. But that's just a guideline, because some love change and outings.
If you are observing an increase in anxiety that will be your cue to try to make fewer changes. One of the things I notice most in my own aging process (I am 80) is an increase overall in anxiety. I have always been a bit introverted, a "home body" as they say. That is only more so, and at this point I notice the same sort of things I noticed first in my life as a young Mom trapped at home with a few kids: a sort of tendency toward agoraphobia. I tend to avoid going out, and I have to make myself do it. Everyone is different, but AARP had a recent small article saying that "anxiety" is one of the least addressed and most prevalent problems in the elderly.
I will leave it to you. You are watching and you are THINKING about this, so I trust you to be observant of changes.
Best to you. You have a wonderful, supportive family there.
It reminds me of raising toddlers. They seem to go through something similar when their brains aren’t up to a task, like a full day of shopping during which they get tired and have a tantrum.
But like already said, everyone is different and you know your mom best, so do whatever she enjoys and makes her happy.
And you may want to look into putting her into an adult daycare center in your city as that way she can be taken care of, entertained and fed for the day and you and your siblings can get a break and do things you all enjoy too without having to worry about mom.
Bottom line it is all about keeping a routine with your loved one with dementia as that helps keep them calm and they know what to expect.
So I stopped going to pick mom up to come to my house, and I'd bring the festivities to her. As dementia advances, so normally does agitation, Sundowning, anxiety, OCD type issues, and general forgetfulness about the order in which everyday things are done. Things we take for granted, they get confused about. Like where the bathroom is located at the siblings home. You'll have to keep an eye out for general discomfort on moms part to know if taking her out of her element is a good idea or not. If she's acting out or more agitated than normal, keep her in a more stable and familiar environment which is always recommended for elders suffering from dementia. A regular routine they can come to rely on tends to make them most comfy and relaxed.
Best of luck to you.