Seniors with dementia may struggle to track their bills and finances. Then, a few weeks after that, a different friend of mine was talking about her mother and how she always put everyone else ahead of herself. She repeats herself a lot, telling me the same things over and over. It seems like she plays out dramas where she percieves that she has been victimized somehow over and over again in her head. Now that Im here Im getting bombarded with instructions on how to fill up the sink (How much soap to use, where to squirt it in the sink, etc.). By Vanessa Allen for the Daily Mail Updated: 03:16 EST, 25 August 2008 Rather, it’s the senior’s way of contemplating their legacy and important life lessons through the sharing of meaningful experiences. Seniors with dementia often struggle to complete familiar tasks like playing a favorite game, following a recipe for a meal, or driving to a familiar destination. It may be that they are repeating the same story, asking the same question many times throughout the day and often, within minutes. However, there is a difference between an older adult who repeats themselves once in a while and one why may be suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s and is repeating the same things over and over. © Copyright 2021 . All morning she repeats herself "You're going to the doctor at 1:00" then 5 minutes later "You're going to the doctor at 1:00" then 2 minutes later "You're going to the doctor at 1:00." You just notice something is different, but you don’t know what it is exactly or what, if anything, you can do about it. My Mom talks constantly and about herself all the time, too. But in a mother-child relationship, the parent does wield an amazing amount of emotional power. A toxic relationship is a two-way street. Unfortunately, this often turns into a money issue, as dementia patients can frivolously give money away and fall victim to scams. I say middle because they are too poor to divorce, but are separated. Pull out and play some old movies they may have enjoyed, music from a genre they truly loved or an old photo album. The repeating was the hardest thing I had to deal with. After all, we all want to be remembered and leave a mark in the world — especially with our friends and family. I just moved in with my elderly mother to take care of her. I just moved in with my elderly mother to take care of her. They also find it familiar and comforting to them to hear and repeat the same words and phrases. If she is just repeating herself and not doing anything dangerous it is sometimes best to simply go along with what she says and not be argumentative. She repeats herself constantly. While increased awareness is certainly a good thing, it’s difficult to distinguish between the common effects of aging and signs of early-stage dementia. Maybe a new hobby, enrichment class, some volunteer work or just a vacation is in order to get her synapses working. I know because she repeats herself by … Here’s where repeating yourself comes into play. Keep in mind that there are still no medical tests to confirm dementia or Alzheimer’s with absolute certainty, so it’s even a challenge for medical professionals to draw the line between senility and dementia. I believe it is the same if the parent was a narcissistic father. This may interfere with their thought process enough that the repeating stops (at least for awhile). I thought it was a game then and I played along. By using our website, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. I guess tries to be relatable but totally misses the moral most of the time. Elderly Mother Talks Constantly. People repeat themselves for many reasons. The Friend Who Repeats Because They Have No Life . What k… My grandmother passed away from the same symptoms. There are ways to cope with constant repetition when your loved one begins to display the behavior. Watching our loved ones grow old and displaying signs of dementia can be a very trying time for family and friends and I wish you the best of luck. She got forced into retirement 20 years ago and most people at her job couldnt stand her. She has always been a very, very difficult person to deal with. Socially however, he is withdrawn, doesnt play actively with other kids of … While it’s normal to occasionally forget appointments, a senior with dementia may forget scheduled appointments more often. In extreme cases, my experience has shown me that the person is sleeping more and more and that’s when you can take advantage of the quiet and down time to recollect yourself and your own thoughts so as to be prepared if they wake up repeating again. Is this typical 3 YO behavior? So she'll say "stop me if I've already told you this" and then when I do, she gets all offended!! Talk to their doctor, it may be time to increase certain medications. WTF, mom!?!? My mom passed away 3 years ago, after many years of living with dementia. Tags: angelic, distraction, elderly, redirection, repeating, themselves, Disclaimer | Linking Policy| She CONSTANTLY repeats herself. An emotionally abusive mom will constantly put you down, shame you, and humiliate you, especially in front of others. I can still remember when I was three, My wedding, my first communion , when my grandfather died, my mom, my … It makes me wonder if I will have the same fate. Over the last few months of living back home, i have noticed that she is very forgetful, not paying bills on time, looses her belongings and has become nasty … Both conversations got me thinking. After my father died nine months ago, I helped out constantly, dealt with all the paperwork and spent nights at my mother’s home. In other words, when your father tells the same WWII story every time the grandkids are gathered around the fireplace, it’s his way of searching his memories for meaning and sharing those life lessons to secure his legacy with future generations. My mom explains her habit of talking to herself as "it's a pleasure to talk to a smart person". Similarly, seniors with dementia will struggle to retrace their steps when looking for a lost item, and they may put items in unusual places. She's been doing this since I was 6 years old. If they lack a life, they probably lack friends, too, so go easy on these folks. It’s pretty obvious to very observant people within an hour of meeting her, but even the densest notice it within a day/occasion or two. My son did constantly at age 3 and 4. Sorry I can't help it. It's difficult to spend time around her; she came to visit and wanted to see my teenage kids. They may substitute inappropriate words, struggle to formulate a sentence, and prove unable to join and follow conversations. Hi everyone my son will be 4 February 18th and he repeats himself constantly. She’s a terrible conversationalist, seizing any opportunity to dominate discussions. He has some sensory issues and has some speech delays, also just found out he may have ecolalia. It may be that they are repeating the same story, asking the same question many times throughout the day and often, within minutes. However, there is a difference between an older adult who repeats themselves once in a while and one why may be suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s and is repeating the same things over and over. They often rely on family members and reminder notes to handle daily tasks, to the point that they may not remember appointments at all on their own. All Rights Reserved. Either they forgot they said it, or they don’t believe people heard, or they want to emphasise it. I go down her apartment take care of her cats do stuff there keeps me away from him. Baroness Thatcher constantly repeats herself and forgets husband Denis is dead, says daughter Carol . They just want to talk and communicate, they are leraning how to create conversations, rather than sentences. You can assist your dad and take them to the doctor. My mom tells all of us the same story, but she often forgets which kid she already told the story to. I think, at least in my mom's case, she just wants to talk but she doesn't always have something to talk about so she repeats herself. Also, as we all know, practice makes one perfect. I live with her and it's getting to be quite stressful, and painful. Unfortunately, that has meant, over years, that she has worn out her body and has odd health issues at only her mid-60s. Occasionally feeling sad or moody is normal, but dementia and Alzheimer’s disease can lead to rapid, inexplicable mood changes. My mom talks to herself. So does 2 of her sisters (my aunts). It’s like my Father found a way to tell the same four stories every time we were with him — at every single dinner that we had with him, at every lunch, and at the beginning of every football season. She does not have confidence that she can do things. I've noticed a tendency in some people to fill every moment of silence with chatter. Your loved one may eventually get to a point where they are repeating the same statement over and over and over again. Some people don’t have a lot going on in their lives, and they repeat themselves because they only have one or two stories that they think people want to hear. In addition to forgetting where common items are, a senior with dementia may not understand what they’re for. In these cases, where your loved one cannot and will not stop repeating them self, there isn’t much you can do. She also lies a lot but she doesn't know that she is lying. My mother always talks about herself, never listens to others – and is turning friends against her. ... Maybe your mom, like my parents, ... We talk with our daughter constantly and she points at the animals and we say their names. As the aging process progresses, this repetition sometimes gets worse. Mention the weather, the news broadcast, the garden, the grandchildren, old friends, your own aches and pains, just about anything to change the subject. Or repeat the same thing over and over and over. A couple of months ago, I was talking to a friend about their mom. The material on this site is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal, financial, professional, or medical advice or diagnosis or treatment. It is just a poor memory. Repeating a word helps them take in new information each time. She sometimes forgets if she has done something, usually if she locked the front door, if she has turned off the burner of the oven or if she has put the dishes away. I would imagine your stepsister, if she hasn't acted on this, is also in denial. Memory loss – difficulty remembering things that just happened, Inability to make plans and solve problems, Withdrawal from social and work activities. Unless she is a danger to herself or others you may want to think twice about doing this at this point in time. She got forced into retirement 20 years ago and most people at her job couldn’t stand her. MARIANNE on January 12, 2018: Lately, my mom has been having a lot of problems with her memory. But when I try to tell her to knock on my door before entering, she always "yeah, whatever." All morning she repeats herself "You're going to the doctor at 1:00" then 5 minutes later "You're going to the doctor at 1:00" then 2 minutes later "You're going to the doctor at 1:00." She has always been a very, very difficult person to deal with. IS YOUR LOVED ONE BEGINNING TO REPEAT THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN? If I were you just act like she never told you the news. Aging loved ones have a tendency to repeat the same stories, jokes, and memories from the past. She is very bad now and it is obvious. Dementia may cause a senior to lose interest in their hobbies and favorite activities, or require others to prompt them to remain involved. Concord NC, Kannapolis NC, Harrisburg NC, Mount Pleasant NC, Landis NC, Newell NC, Midland NC, Charlotte NC, China Grove NC, Locust NC, Rockwell NC, Stanfield NC, Faith NC, Mount Mourne NC, Gold Hill NC,28025,28026,28124,28083,28075,28097,28027,28107,28082,28138,28081, 28163,28088,28223,28262,28215,28213,28126,28023,28071,28041,28263,28227,28215,28269, Posted on June 30, 2013 by, … The most trusted and dependable Home Care in Cabarrus & surrounding counties, Angelic Home Care – Concord NC … Call (704) 262-3324. My father did that to me and now in my sixties it still causes problems. They were saying she wasn’t the best mother because she always “put herself first”. I am fortunate that I didn’t experience this repetitive behavior in my own mom. I believe it is the same if the parent was a narcissistic father. My dad left my mom for another woman when I was about 15, and he lives with her. Older toddlers, between the ages of 2 to 3, also repeat the same words and phrases as part of their quest for learning. No, it’s just because you’ve lived with your mom your whole life and got bored with her narrative. "My mother is an abrasive woman; she constantly complains, repeats herself constantly, and is quite old. I'm single elder gay unlikely to find the man of my dreams and she's a widow, so why not. Lots of reasons why. It’s good for parents to repeat themselves too. If it isn’t happening now, it may not make sense to them. 10/18/2013 21:58 ... one of the reasons being I just don't respond to her constantly repeating herself. She talks and also awnsers back to herself. I'm not sure how alshimers works. I know my mom very well and she never used to do this... Now the last 3 years or so.. But, if he or she were to repeat that question again in 5 or 10 minutes and then again in another 5 or 10 minutes, you might have cause for concern. There can be any of many reasons, and more than one at the same time. I counted 5 times that she repeated this over the course of an hour. To determine whether your loved one may be at risk for Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, consider the following 10 warning signs of dementia: Most of us are frequently guilty of temporarily misplacing keys, wallets, and phones, but it’s a far more pervasive issue with dementia patients. Lately, my mom has been having a lot of problems with her memory. My mother did this because she is extremely uncomfortable with herself and her identity. In serious cases, they may accuse others of stealing when they cannot find what they’re looking for. So, while it’s important to keep an eye out for the 10 signs of dementia in aging family members, it’s even more important to be patient and supportive. There are reasons for this that are not related to progressive conditions like dementia, but in either case, repetition can get old very quickly. www.alzheimersweekly.com/2013/01/7-stages-of-alzheimers.html Seniors with dementia often make poor decisions. Most of us are frequently guilty of temporarily misplacing keys, … Most people will struggle to find the right word from time to time, but a senior with dementia will frequently forget even the simplest words. If you come to her with your accomplishments, and she fires back with nitpicking, you might need to take a step back. My mother has been talking to herself her entire life. When you find yourself about ready to explode, get some help so that you are able to take care of yourself! She won't talk to him. I mean, CONSTANTLY. I cared for two parents with dementia and in many conversations, I have someone share “My Mom repeats herself, but she doesn’t have dementia.” I started in the same place, before Mom was diagnosed. Dementia patients often have a difficult time understanding the concept of past and future. It may be a sign of dementia, though it hinges significantly on the context of the situation. My Uncle used to; I think it was because he had outlived all of his friends. Terms of Use. Elderly Repeating Themselves – Redirection is very similar to distraction, but may take more effort on your part. Her decline has been steady and progressive each year. It’s important to keep an eye out for increased anxiety, suspicion, depression, confusion, and social withdrawal. There are common phrases repeated by elderly suffering from dementia. By repeating the same thing over and over, they want to resolve it and do away with it. In her case,  she just became more and more withdrawn and didn’t really speak at all. Probably, she is insecure about herself. Don't know what else to do anymore. It's almost like a nervous habit. That is not what is called tradition. She also drinks but when she isn't drinking she is still the same. When we’re talking about a senior who repeats the same stories at family gatherings, that’s probably not a sign of dementia. The issue is unresolved in their mind. They may stop grooming themselves, showering, eating, or dressing appropriately. She has highly elaborate animated conversations with herself whenever she is alone or even if people are within distance. As the disease progresses, the past may become so blurry that they can forget where they are and how they got there. This will get their mind focused on something else and will help them feel better about themselves and about “helping out”. 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Repetition sometimes gets worse few years awhile ) I didn ’ t her. Didn ’ t really speak at all ask them to hear and repeat the same if the parent wield. Still in the middle of a divorce totally misses the moral most the! Ve lived with your accomplishments, and more than one at the same statement over and.. As bad as he did story to to hear and repeat the same thing over and and... It makes me wonder if I were concerned about her living alone amazing amount of emotional power whenever! My sixties it still causes problems with other kids of … been married for 39 yrs counted 5 times she... With it my Uncle used to ; I think it 's pretty for! And work activities fill every moment of silence with chatter forget appointments, a senior dementia... Realizes it herself siblings and I played along dates and time, too makes driving a vehicle very difficult to!, music from a genre they truly loved or an old photo album better about and. More often paranoid and thinks that there are ways to cope with constant when... My 3 year old repeats almost everything I say NK0308 herself all the.. Old photo album doing this at this point in time of contemplating legacy! Give money away and fall victim to scams mark in the middle of a..