She has vascular dementia and lately has started having hallucinations and has been angry a few times. A large part of most days she’s ok, but otherwise suffers from anxiety and loneliness. She is recently on abilify and buspar.
her room now is close to the smoking hut and since she has claustrophobia, she spends most nice days outside. Once she is in memory care she’ll have to wait for an aid to be able to escort her outside. Maybe 3 times a day. I don’t know how to explain the move to her and whatever I tell her will be forgotten so I’d like to have a good , short thing to say, as I will be repeating it several times a day.
At first it was tough trying to move in whatever furniture he needed as going from a 2 bedroom apartment into just a room the size of a bedroom wasn't easy for me to arrange. Thankfully all his bookcases fit, and that was all he was worried about.
By setting up this bedroom size suite, which had a small kitchenette, I tried to arrange the bed and dresser the same way he had it in the apartment, which was the same way he had it at home. That way when he woke up at night and wondered where he was, seeing his tall dresser where it was gave him comfort.
This has nothing to do with your question, but I thought it was worth mentioning, since your Mom is taking it.
You are correct in that she will most likely not remember so do not bother trying to reason her through an explanation. Tell her whatever therapeutic fib works to keep her calm day by day. Make sure the staff is in on it.
You do not have to keep repeating it. Practice distraction and redirection. Bring things for her to look at: pics on your phone, items from home, something on the tv, go for a walk, etc. Get creative.
I do like the idea of telling her it's cheaper though. It can't hurt.
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