My mother is 79 has various medical conditions including very mild dementia. She is currently on some medications that cause her to have to urinate and have bowel movements more often than normal; however that is not where the problem is....She goes to the bathroom or asked to be taken to the bathroom literally every 10-15 minutes. She has to have assistance getting to the bathroom and often will not wait. On Wednesday a trip to the bathroom, unassisted, caused her to fall and break her leg. While in the hospital she has asked to use the restroom so much that they finally put an external catheter. Well that has become entertainment for her and she "shows off" to visitors by urinating and telling them to watch! She will ask to have a bed pan as well, with company, and try to have a bowel movement with them in the room. If she's not asking to go to the bathroom or using the restroom she telling everyone about it...in detail. I'm over it and get very frustrated and tell her I don't want to hear about. Sometimes I just leave the room. I'm wondering several things: 1) is she using it as way to get attention and have people constantly in her room. 2) is it a way to have physical contact from others and 3) if we should limit how often she goes (within reason of course). She normally likes a lot of attention and this definitely gets people's attention for a sustained period. So frustrated!!
Many, many people who like attention do not attempt to get it by obsessing with toileting. That, I think, is the role dementia is playing. Her filters are gone or going and she no longer recognizes that this is not a socially acceptable topic. Think of a child being toilet-trained and how proud they can be of what they've produced. And how obsessive their parents seem to be about the entire subject! Children "outgrow" that fascination by learning culturally approved filters. Older people with dementia are going in just the opposite direction, losing their ability to filter their conversational topics.
That doesn't make the whole experience any more pleasant for you, of course. I think the best you can do is try to redirect her to other topics and to give her lots of attention on other subjects.
My LO had obsessions with other things like her cat. She was constantly calling to the cat, asking that the cat be fed, worrying over the cat, etc. She was so obsessed with the cat that she would just start crying because of her worry over the cat. Her dementia caused other types of obsessive behavior as well. Medication really helped her a lot. She lost the obsessions for the most part.
The behavior you are describing falls far from the “very mild” definition of dementia.
As you look for answers to this problem you should first start from adjusting this assessment.
Beyond that - has your mother been tested for a UTI?
Since a UTI has been ruled out, I would look for other signs of infection in the body. She should also be seen by her regular medical doctor and have a CBC (complete blood count), a Chem Panel (checking for electrolytes) and a Creatinine (kidney function tests). These, at the very least, should be checked.
Was her behavior this "off" at any other time in her life? Does she suffer from a mental illness?
I would make the doctor appointment ASAP and talk to him/her about being evaluated for "staging" (finding out the level or severity of her dementia).
Sometimes medications can make older folks "wacky". Please bring all of her medications with you to the MD appt. and go over them with the doc to see if they could be the cause of her strange behavior.
Does she take medications on her own or does someone give them to her? If she's taking them, I would relieve her of that duty.
It seems your mom is fixated on showing everyone her "ability". If she's not responding to your explanation that her behavior is inappropriate, she will need outside help. Please make the appointments right away.
Also, you said, "Is she using it as a way to get attention and have people constantly in her room?"
Does she ever get OUT of her room? Where does she live? Are their activities for her to do? Maybe it's a desperate cry for attention. Can she socialize with others with the rule that the visiting stops when she starts with her elimination "show".
My mother (94yo/stage 6-7 Alzheimer's) also wants to go to the bathroom frequently. (No UTI) In her case (and confusion) I think it's just something to do because she's anxious. She takes Ativan (Lorazepam) for that. Does your mom take any anti-anxiety medication?
Maybe one would help her calm down.
Good luck
It’s also been my experience that doctors at facilities don’t interact much with the patients and almost not at all with their families. The only thing the doctor did for my husband in rehab was put him in medication that cost us $1000 a prescription.
As her dementia progresses this will become increasingly difficult to do - but between now and then things will also grow increasingly difficult for you - to understand, tolerate and address the strange behaviors.
Take good documentation on what you’re seeing so you can talk to her neurologist and/or PCP about it. If the PCP doesn’t seem to accept of address what you’re saying - find a new one who specializes in geriatric medicine.
As well - take some time to learn about dementia. If you find yourself right now thinking “yeah, right! I’ll squeeze that in”, know that if you are the one who is going to continue to look after your mothers care - it will be the best time you’ve ever spent - in investing in your own sanity.