@kateia
Before the dementia, did your mother swim at all? Was she afraid of water, such as bodies of water, or did she have a fear of drowning?

One of mom's favorite things to do when I was little was to soak in the bathtub for a long time. When it became too difficult for her to get in and out of the tub they changed to showers about 6 years ago. She didn't really enjoy them...only took one occasionally. The past 5 years she's been doing sponge baths. I don't remember her complaining about having a fear of water when I was growing up. She never really went swimming but made sure that we all had swim lessons. We did a lot of fishing in the boat and from a dock and waters edge and she never had problems with that. My mother-in-law, however, could swim every day where she is but she won't stick her big toe in the water. She does take showers by herself without problem. This has something to do with her dementia and the fact that they either gang up on her or trick her into getting into the "tub" room. Then she is livid for a couple of days. They changed her bedding the other day. (she's only been sleeping on top of the bedspread with two throws over the top of her) The folded the throws and put them at the end of her bed and she threw a fit. She wouldn't even go into the room. They "fixed" it but she was still mad. My sister finally straightened things out and then she did lay down to nap. She also has issues with a lot of the staff going into her room. She doesn't wear pajamas...just her clothes. My brother's wife helps her in the evening to change into new slacks and top or she would wear what she has on for weeks. Hope this answers your question.

One often overlooked aspect of dementia is that a patient's remaining senses can often become overly sensitive to make up for those that are being lost. Therefore sensations of the skin might be highly elevated where there were not before. Likewise sense of smell, etc.

Plus change, any change, can be extremely frustrating and frightening to a dementia patient. Change means the unknown and they are already having to deal with that in a continual, overwhelming way as they diminish in mental capacity.

I wish you peace and strength.

@kateia with dementia not only is there a loss of memories but with it frustration and anger. It is also possible that she changes habbits or her likes and dislikes. It's just the dementia. When she wants something changed and different than what she used to do just go with it. It might seem different to you but to your mother and her dementia it is as if that is the way she always done things. And like all of us sometimes we just want to change our behaviors just because of our moods. If it is not hurting herself or others than be patient and let the changes come. The important thing is that she is happy.

I made sure Mom had Arecept and Nameda - i think it slowed down the<br>dementia. 3 yrs os taking care of her. - but at the end she accepted things<br>and was enjoying life.<br><br>Mari*a*n<br>