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DiscussionHow do you handle uncooperative and manipulative behaviors?
Caregivers: Dementia | Last Active: May 15, 2023 | Replies (37)Comment receiving replies
Replies to "@nemo1 My friends father had dementia and was so angry and combative they stopped visiting him..."
Absolutely. Oh my goodness…that sounds like my mom and I’m sure many people. She - every time dad would dig his heels in refusing to eat, would try and negotiate and debate his lack of eating. Trying everything to get him to want to. She spent so much time and reaching her about that and to try to get her to accept this is not about his stubborn will. Its about his sickness. Thats the only way to see it (in my estimation). There was so much waisted time. I know she felt less than as a caregiver if she could not get the man who never missed a meal to eat. She felt responsible. But I tried to explain in delicate terms (because tensions are high with that going on). In the end, she resigned to accept but it was near the end when that happened. It is hard to say goodbye when the person is right in front of us. Even if it is a notion, I have found emotionally it saves a lot of heartache in one way. I remember feeling guilty for these initial thoughts, but realized right away asking myself why I am feeling guilty. We do what we can when we can. If and when they let us. You are so right - you can’t reason with an unreasonable illness.