Dad confused in his apartment - looking for stairs that don't exist

kjcampbell

I'm looking for suggestions / tips about how to address my dad's search for stairs to go to his other apartment. He is 92, in a wheelchair - probably Stage 5 Alzheimers. He lives in a Memory Care facility in a studio apartment. He keeps looking for the stairs from the basement or to the 2nd floor to get to his "other" apartment or bedroom. I know logic & correcting him won't work, but there's nowhere I can take him up any stairs - everything is on a single level. If I can't redirect his attention elsewhere, how can I answer him?

SDianeL

welcome. Many people with dementia say they want to “go home” even if they are still in the home they have lived in for decades. It’s caused by anxiety and memory timelines issues. Even if you could show him stairs he wouldn’t remember and would still ask countless times a day. I think he’s looking for home. I would try distraction. I remember a video about wanting to go home that might be helpful. I think it was by Teepa Snow or Tam Cummings. Try searching online for it. I’ll see if I can find it again. This is a tough one.

terei

How about ‘they removed the stairway + put in the elevator last week’?