I need advice - My husband with dementia keeps scissors for 'protection'

BigSkyMama

My husband has dementia and has become very focused on keeping a pair of scissors with him because he believes he may need them if an intruder comes into the house. He keeps them close at all times, carries them in his back pocket, and even sleeps with them.

I have thought about taking them away while he is in the shower, but I worry that would only make him more agitated and lead him to look for something else to use instead. I am also afraid it could damage the trust we still have, especially since getting him to accept help with showering is already difficult. I have hidden the knives, but I cannot hide an entire garage full of tools. A screwdriver or even a sharp stick could be just as dangerous as the scissors.

He has not threatened me, but he often does not recognize me, and I am afraid he could mistake me for an intruder.

Has anyone dealt with this kind of paranoia or protective behavior? What helped calm the situation, keep everyone safe, and avoid making the person more agitated? I would be very grateful to hear from anyone who has been through something similar.

terei

He is paranoid and does not recognise you. IMO he is clearly a danger to you. I would have a serious talk with his Dr and he should be appropriately medicated.

harshedbuzz

Is there no way to lock the garage?

Maru

Agree with Harshedbuzz, have someone put a lock on the garage and you hide the key…that is part of my plan in the future. As to the scissors, is there someone that can file off the ends of a pair of scissors so that they will not become a weapon?

Lgb35

I have scissors with a protective cover over the ends. Maybe a new pair with a protective covering glued on

Chance Rider

If you haven’t already, I’d definitely talk with his doctor about the paranoia.
My husband was insistent on carrying a pocket knife with him, said he needed it to cut strings off of hay bales. I locked up all his knives but found these blunt tipped scissors that do the job. Maybe your DH would accept these.

Jeff H

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/269940#Comment_269940

If you are talking about the garage doors, I disconnected the openers on the garage wall so pressing them does nothing. My DW cannot leave through the garage.

RMD0709

Dear "BigSkyMama,"

I am very worried about you! This type of paranoia and reading how at times your DH does not recognize you is an absolute concern! My DH has not yet shown this even though we are in the beginning of Stage 5, however in helping to care for his mother with AD, I do have experience in paranoia. My MIL would at times not recognize her husband and hit him over the head a couple of times with a paper weight and other solid objects! She genuinely was scared of "the stranger in the house." Ironically within an hour or so she would come to realize it was her husband (my FIL), and then say "why did you not tell me it was you?" Fortunately he was never hurt, however, a pair of scissors like your husband is carrying is a disaster waiting to happen! Please somehow glue a safety cover over them as some have suggested ASAP! Please talk to his doctor ASAP to identify a medication to help! Lock up anything you can think of that could be lethal! But most of all, have your doctor help you with something to control this paranoia because as I have shared, even a simple paperweight became a "weapon!" God bless and protect you!