VASCULAR DEMENTIA IN THE ELDERLY: BUT I JUST ANSWERED THAT QUESTION:DEALING WITH DEMENTIA

This is the fifth in a series of posts based on symptoms delineated in the Johns Hopkins Guide to Understanding Dementia. Information from the guide will be italicized for clarity of origination and followed by personal observations .

LANGUAGE. The ability to speak or comprehend seems impaired, and the person may have problems following or participating in conversations.

Language held a vaunted place in our mother's life. Mealtime conversation often meant that word meanings were discussed, and someone was dispatched to bring the dictionary so that the matter could be cleared up before the potatoes grew cold.

As the dementia progressed, she often searched for words, substituting a definition for the word itself, almost a classic way of responding. Since her vocabulary was large, she could often come up with a simpler word, or more often than not, we jumped in to assist her, rather than causing her embarrassment.

The most difficult language symptom to everyone was the period when she repeated herself. It might be a story told several times in one day or one hour, or it could be the same question asked over and over even when adequate answers had been given.

Our mother is in a different phase now. She doesn't talk as much most days; other days she may talk ceaselessly, but it is different than the repetition phase. Other patients in the assisted living home where she now lives are in the repetition phase. It is taxing to answer their questions over and over, and it can stretch the patience of the most saintly of caregivers.

One has to wonder if at this phase they are just at the "jumping off" point between clarity and the vagueness of mind that is dementia. Perhaps the repetition is a way of trying to hold on to their reality.

Over time, though, this phase changes too and gives way to other symptoms or an odd silence which begins to make one feel that the person is slowly leaving.

DEMENTIA HINT: The repetition phase is difficult for the caregiver. This would be just one suggestion for handling it. Answer the question as many times as you (the caregiver) are tolerant of answering it, then change the subject. Distracting the person with an activity, snack, drink or a walk may help take their mind in a new direction. For the moment, anyway. Repeat as necessary. Call in help. Give yourself a break. Installed