Challenge behavior?

itcanbedoneamigo

Yesterday he started the inevitable. He forgot simple things, he repeated questions. Today, he stole my phone, hid it in his closet, he's being sneaky. When I found it, he went straight to where it was hiding to look. So I know he was aware that he took it, right? Then he unplugged my computer ( knowing I have school today, I think) then when I took out the trash, he took my cigarettes. I am not even going to anything to him about that. So I'm thinking it's like a cry for attention, but I'm hoping you guys might be able to help with similar stories, or with advice. I am scared he is going to get mean soon. I've never seen anything like this before.

hiya

with Alzheimers, it’s the disease causing this behavior. It’s a way to keep their environment the same. My DH moves anything that is out and puts it in a random cupboard. If I put a note on the item ‘don’t move’, DH will still move it. I also thinks it’s their way of having a purposeful activity…tidying up. It has driven me crazy in the past, missing phone chargers, tv remotes etc. DH now moves things drawer to drawer!! Take a deep breath…it’s a frustrating behavior.

itcanbedoneamigo

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/243526#Comment_243526

Wow so it's actually a normal behavior. And it is totally dementia doing it. Wow. Thanks for the insight. God bless you

trottingalong

This is very normal. Most of the time my DH only moves things when I’m not around. Some things end up in the garbage (like treasured photos) and others in a hidden pile in the garage. I found a wooden carving of a turtle that was always displayed on our living room table in the kitchen hidden on a shelf. Bandaids went missing (why?). There doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason. Oh and a case of small batteries disappeared. We hunted for days. I found it under our old truck. My DH mother had this disease and hid dish towels and books. More than once we found dish towels under the floor mat in the back seat of a car. We never did find her wedding rings though. We suspect they ended up buried in the back garden.

SDianeL

Yes. Very common. He’s not being sneaky because he can’t reason. His reasoner is broken. Dementia patients may take, hide, or throw away items due to memory loss, impulsivity, or delusions, often stemming from an attempt to regain control or cope with their changing environment. It's important to understand these behaviors are not necessarily intentional and can be caused by memory and cognitive impairment.Iwould make sure things you value are locked away so he can’t get to them. My DH threw things in the trash. He seemed to be putting them away and didn’t understand what happened to the trash. He threw away his glasses and a wallet at memory care. There was nothing in the wallet of value because I had removed it. He also threw photos in the trash. The nurse got them out and locked them away.

marier

My DH somehow managed to take all the forks out of the drawer and hid them some place. I am still looking for the forks. It's been over six months since the forks have been MIA. I am also still searching for my Kindle. My DH mobility has decreased in the last month so things are not disappearing as quickly. It is frustrating behavior.

itcanbedoneamigo

Wow thank you so much for what you have told me so far. I feel hopeful and strengthened

l7pla1w2

DW wasn't hiding things. She was just putting them away in some way that was incomprehensible to me. She also misplaced items routinely, then complained someone had stolen them: eyeglasses, wallet, rings,… I got pretty good at knowing some of the most likely places she had put things. It was like a treasure hunt. However, her laptop computer is still missing.

sandwichone123

I bought a small safe and put jewelry and irreplaceable paperwork in it. My dh never did start moving things badly, but I figured better safe than sorry.