mom wants to go home(6)

hollyk77

My mom had 2 major anxiety attacks the week between Christmas and New Years that required 2 trips to the ER. I figured out it was from not taking her medicine because she had hidden it and couldn't remember where. Ever since then she does not know/realize that she is in our house. She has lived here for 20 years but keeps telling me that she knows people are stealing her things, going in her room and she just wants to leave this place and go home. 

5 minutes ago, she asked me if there is a front desk here with people who could answer questions. I told her I didn't know, so then she said I go that way then left to the desk right. I answered I wasn't sure. She walked down the hall and then realized she had to go up the stairs, so she came back. 

I am at a loss as to what to tell her when she asks to go home. We moved here to Nebraska from California 20 years ago so there is no way she could go back to her childhood home. I feel so bad when she asks because I know that she doesn't know where she is any more and she just wants the familiar, but I am not sure how to go about getting her that familiar.

towhee

It is not so much the familiar sometimes as it is just wanting to feel secure. Try looking for youtube videos by Dementia Careblazer and Teepa Snow using the phrase "wants to go home". You might also try reading "Understanding the Dementia Experience" by Jenifer Ghent Fuller, it should be available for free online, just google.