Mom does not like sitting

Fad marie

My mom is 76 and was dx with Alz 4 years ago.  For the last two years or so, we've noticed (and she's even noticed) that she doesn't like to sit.  She stands as much as she can.  She walks into the kitchen to eat, she almost always stands at the table and eats when we make her some food.  She walks into the living room to talk to my dad, she stands in the middle of the living room for 20 minutes without sitting on one of the two couches.  She stands in her bedroom when she talks to me (as I sit on the bed).  She will sit when someone encourages her to sit (if we go to a restaurant, take her to the doctor), but she would much rather stand.  Is this a balance issue?  Is it difficult to get up?  She has sometimes complained of "dizziness" when she stands up.  I have wondered if that's the typical head rush that a person might feel from standing up quickly (and she doesn't remember that feeling) or if it's a balance issue related to the Alz.  Wondered if any of you have had LOs experience this?  

M1

Does she have a bad back?  My partner has severe scoliosis and will almost always rather stand than sit if given a choice.

Iris L.

My back used to bother me and every time I sat down I felt a jolt of pain in my spine.  Also, when I went to stand up, my knees felt flashes of pain.  In those days, I deliberately tried to limit sitting down and getting up.  I have less pain now that I have lost weight.  

Iris L.

Fad marie

My mom didn't have any history of back pain before her Alz dx.  As you know, it's harder to get a true sense of her ailments now, especially since she has Alz of the language variant.  So, maybe it is back pain or knee pain?  Thanks for the suggestions.

Stuck in the middle

Back pain makes me want to stand, knee pain does not.

Jane Smith

Hi Fad Marie,

If nobody has said, welcome to where we wish we didn’t have to be. I’m sorry to hear about your mom. 

It’s always so difficult to try to figure out what’s going on with someone with dementia, especially with any combination of impaired insight, inability to accurately self-report, and of course communication difficulties (of many kinds). 

I agree it’s smart to see if there is something about sitting that bothers her, such as pain on sitting or standing, something making her uncomfortable (clothes, furniture, ?), or balance or ear issues. 

Does she also have a preference to not stand up from sitting, or is is just not wanting to sit down when she is already standing?  If the latter, it might make me wonder if she has trouble identifying places to sit, and/or how to get her body into the chair or sofa or car  

If the former, perhaps there is something that makes the transition from sitting to standing uncomfortable.  

On that topic, orthostatic hypotension (also sometimes called postural hypotension) is very common in persons with dementia and is often not diagnosed or is misdiagnosed.  As the dementia impacts the brain, the body is less able to regulate blood pressure from lying to sitting, and sitting to standing. This can cause dizziness, discomfort, and falls. You just need a medical professional who knows what they are doing, and can get the person with dementia to cooperate, to check this out. 

I also wanted to mention that it is not uncommon for persons with dementia to want to walk all the time. My mother was one such. She had no hip or knee or back pain, the dementia just drove her to walk and walk and walk, all the time. 

I know it’s not much help. Best wishes to you and your family 

Arrowhead

I have worked on my feet almost my entire life and I often feel more comfortable standing then sitting. If I sit too long I stand up because my butt gets sore. It may be that, she too, just feels more comfortable standing than sitting. As long as she keeps her balance and doesn't fall, I'd say to just let her stand.

Fad marie

Hi Jane, those suggestions are definitely helpful.  She has not complained of pain when standing up or sitting so I didn't think it was a back/knee issue, but as you know sometimes pain is not always communicated clearly.  So, I will keep an eye out.  I did wonder if it was orthostatic hypertension.  That's the "head rush" I mentioned and wondered if that's the dizziness she has sometimes noted.  I didn't know orthostatic hypertension was worsened by dementia so thank you for that info.  I will mention it to her PCP when we go in September.  

That's a good question about whether it's a preference not to stand up or just not wanting to sit.  I think it's more not wanting to sit.  I don't think I've noticed her preferring sitting or staying sitting for unusually long or not wanting to stand up, but I will keep an eye out for that, too.  If it is just not wanting to sit, it might be as you say and her having difficulty identifying where/how to sit.  I continue to learn about why something might be a particular challenge to her.  Yesterday, when the family was there for lunch, she picked up her sandwich and took it to her bedroom, leaving the 7 of us to eat in the kitchen.  In the past, I would have encouraged her to stay, thinking she *needed* the socialization and would benefit from being around everyone.  But I've learned that she would rather eat alone in her bedroom because it's too loud and overwhelming all of us talking at the same time.  

On a happy note, my mom was in such a good mood yesterday.  Even joking around with me when I tried to put her (third! after she threw the first two away) ID bracelet on.  She would pull her arm away as I went for her wrist and then laugh and then do it again.  It was cute.  She says she now wants the ID bracelet so here's hoping this one doesn't frustrate her again.  

Stuck in the middle

She may just have a boil on her backside.  Otherwise, too much sitting isn't good for you and I see no problem with letting her stand.  I know people who choose to work standing a good part of the day with adjustable computer tables; I did it myself for years.

Fad marie

Oh, yes, I have no problem with her standing as much as she does.  Just curious about it and what might be causing it.  Especially since she noticed it, too.