Wondering if this happens to other parents.

danieleigh57 · May 6

I don't post very often but do a lot of reading of other post. My father was diagnosed 6 years ago with Dementia but was wondering about things I have observed over the last few weeks with my Dad.

Over the last few weeks my mother and I, they both live with me as I help care give for them both, have noticed my Dad tends to close his eyes more often then he has in the past. It was mentioned to us, that he could be closing them to adjust to being over stimulated, more confused, etc. He isn't sleeping when he is doing this.

He shuffles his feet more then he has ever done. Won't walk with his cane in the house, though we have caught him a few times using it in the house. fights us on it when we got out but he uses it and boy does he shuffle those feet. We keep telling him to pick his feet up but he doesn't. Thought I read somewhere this happens more as the person declines overtime.

He seems more out of it then ever before. More confused. Really can't comprehend objects. He hides it well but more often then not can't place names with faces anymore. Says "I don't know" a lot or "Do you think I should?"

His primary, at his last appointment, said he was dehydrated with high sodium levels. My mom and I struggle to get my dad to drink. We tried straws, adding flavors, etc. but he won't drink. He will tell us he did but we can tell from his cup he hasn't. We asked his aid, who comes twice a week, to help there but she doesn't really. (She doesn't even drink herself.) With that diagnoses, we have been trying to figure out if with what we have been noticing, is him declining more, or because he was dehydrated.

He sees his neurologist in a few months and we have been debating if we should reach before,

April23 · May 6

This sounds a lot like my dad who is probably around stage 6. My dad has LBD and shuffling is common. A shuffling gait makes your dad very prone to falling. If he’s not on hospice, your dad might qualify for physical therapy through home health to help with gait and balance.

My dad has closed his eyes at me before which I take as a sign of overstimulation and end my visit. See if you can find a pattern: is the TV on, are people over, is mom vacuuming, is the dishwasher running, etc.? How is he sleeping at night? It can be overstimulation, sensory overload, fatigue, anxiety, etc.

Dehydration can also worsen confusion. It is also dangerous and can mean a trip to the ER. My dad has a cup of ice water within reach at all times. I also encourage fruit, smoothies, and popsicles throughout the day—it doesn’t always have to be liquids. Watermelon, cucumbers, yogurt and broth are also good. As the disease progresses, PWD stop feeling hunger and thirst the same way. You have to constantly remind and encourage. There are also hydration gels you can get but they are expensive. If you are private paying a caregiver, she should absolutely encourage fluids while she is there.

I have found it hard to know if decline is the result of disease progression or has a physical cause. Any sudden changes or worsening of confusion is more likely due to a medical reason than gradual decline.

Shenmama99 · May 6

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/75968/wondering-if-this-happens-to-other-parents

Have the doctor check your dad for a UTI.

pjasso · May 7

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/75968/wondering-if-this-happens-to-other-parents

I just attended a virtual forum on "memory care and life changing decisions" and a neurologist from Stanford gave a presentation. He talked about something similar, saying the problem is that the brain can no longer properly interpret and organize what the eyes are seeing, and the person's “visual world” shrinking or becoming less usable. A person with dementia may sit with their eyes closed for periods of time while still awake, aware, and listening. It is not always sleep. Reasons include how exhausting visual processing has become for them. Vision in dementia can be “hard work” for the brain. Closing the eyes can reduce that burden. It can reduce sensory overload, feeling calmer with less incoming stimulation and other reasons.

I don't know if this is what your dad is experiencing, but it triggered me hearing about this and I looked up my notes. Hopefully your neurologist can help. I hope I provided some possible reasons.

It broke my heart when my mom first asked me, "Do you think I should . . . ", or "What do you think?" So childlike.

btw, I just joined this group today and have already found so much support!

Wondering if this happens to other parents.

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