Obsessive Behavior

Daniel318

Hello. This is my first post and it may have been discussed elsewhere. My Father is in what o believe the middle stage of dementia. He is very obsessed with toilet paper. Like he’s so worried about peeing himself, which he doesn’t, that he loads his pants down with toilet paper. He wears depends and a pad. Then shoves a whole roll of paper in there. We aren’t sure why. It’s gotten worse over the last couple of
Months.
He now also started chewing paper and Kleenex thinking it’s food or gum. Has anyone else dealt with this.
Thanks!

M1

Hi Daniel, welcome to the forum. I have no personal experience, but at my partners memory care facility they keep all paper products locked up for this very reason. You may have to do that too and just not give him access to large quantities. Much harder to do at home than in a facility, but maybe there's a way.

This sounds like a pretty late stage behavior. Is he on any medications for obsessive behaviors? Might be worth talking to his docs about as well. Good luck.

Daniel318

Thank you for the response. I have notified his hospice nurses today. He’s under long term hospice care. I’m hoping there is something they can give him. I’ve told my Mom we need to put the tissues up where he cannot get them.

Regina312

I'm sorry you are going thru this. From what I have learned, it seems that most patients become obsessed over something. My Mom was obsessed over the dog. She had no idea anymore who I was and didn't even know the dog's name, but somehow knew there was a dog. To be honest, I'm not even sure if she knew it was a dog, or even knew what a dog was. But she would look for him and follow him constantly. If she didn't see him, she would walk all around the house. I knew what she was looking for. He seemed to have provided her with some comfort and easiness, so it was a blessing in its own way. But she became frantic when she couldn't find him. Ultimately, my Mom succumbed to her illness, had a brain event of some type, and collapsed one day. The dog laid with her until the paramedics came. It was so sweet and heartbreaking. She passed a few days later. I wish you the very best.

Daniel318

So sorry you went thru that. It’s a horrid disease!! Thank you for your comment.