Respite stay

People with dementia are all so different. Being home may remind her of all the things she wants to do that she is not able to (or that you won’t let her in an effort to keep her safe). Mom wanted to mow the lawn, reupholster the couch, bake bread, power wash the swing….. Being away from her home actually helped get some of these things off her mind and decreased her anxiety a bit. I don’t know how structured your days are, but people with dementia do better with structure and routine. An increase in routine was very helpful for mom. You should also consider your own health. A break may allow you to be a better caregiver when she comes back. You may also find she has adjusted so well and you want to keep her there. There is no wrong decision. No one knows how these kinds of things will go. Just make the decision you think is best and don’t beat yourself up if you later decide it was the wrong way to go.

I took my spouse for a 5 day respite provided by hospice. He became severely deconditioned and is now in a hospital bed 24/7. He was walking short distances with a walker when I dropped him off.