Anxiety behaviors and meds

F&E

Hello, I have been lurking for 6 months ,just now posted our story.The forum  is comforting, enlightening and therapeutic. My alz. Wife is always active moving items everywhere, walking all around the house tampering with everything,wanting to go outside, get out of here or for me to entertain her. Would this be considered  abnormal anxious behavior or is it or maybe just boredom from her isolation .This takes up a lot of my time and I need to get  other things done.she requires continuous attention.complaining and trying to get the phone from me right now.if it is anxiety could meds help and which ones.Or is this common normal behavior thanks in advance for any input

Rick4407

Hello F&E.  Welcome to the forum, it's treasure of information.  The behavior you describe is I believe very normal.  My DW did that for several years and just recently switched to just sitting and staring or dozing until about 2 PM.  

The hard part for me was the making her moves safe.  In the bathroom all of her makeup and fashion accessories disappeared.  In the kitchen it was knobs on the stove and cleaning supplies.  In the balance of the house it was items that were fragile or I felt had sentimental value.  My DW has remained pleasant and occasionally smiles.  But it is still a continuous job monitoring her.   Good luck, Rick

Marie67

Hello F&E,

My husband is constantly rearranging things. I learned if he goes into a room for over 2 minutes I'd better check to see what he's up to. He's thrown all or forks in the trash. And I've learned to check the trash before tying it up, there's almost always some type of utensil or dish that he's throwed away. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's close to six months ago. And almost immediately, things started coming up missing. Like last week I found a dinner plate in the trunk of the car. I never know where I'm going to find items or what I'm going to find. I think it's pretty much the norm for someone with dementia. 

F&E

Thank you. Rick and Marie

Vitruvius

From every caregiver I've talked to, and everything I've read, the situation you described is not just normal, it's virtually universal with PWD. It described my DW to a T for a while. But as DW progressed this pasted and I would give anything to have her back at this stage. She has since lost the cognitive ability to wander around and rearrange things.

ZackFootInMouth

Hide things you need beforehand in a safe location. I've almost resorted to sleeping with a suitcase as a pillow because my wallet or keys or shoes were deemed valuable and put away somewhere no one else would get to.