My MIL threatened me with a knifep

Posted by thomas54 @thomas54, 13 hours ago

My 85 yr old mother-in-law picked up a steak knife, which should not have been there, & with an evil stare, held it two feet from my face for about 8 seconds & said “who is this stranger?”

She then put it down & my wife’s family thinks nothing of it. I told them that she will only get worse & they don’t care.

Thoughts?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Caregivers: Dementia Support Group.

“Fors her doctor know?”

Not a chance. The 95-year-old husband laughed about it and the son and daughter-in-law and sister could care less because they’ve never cared for me and my wife.

I should’ve called the sheriff!!!

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You have no way of knowing what the potential for escalation is, but there is a risk that she could act if she feels threatened. At the very least, I would try to secure or keep potential "weapons" out of sight and reach. If this type behavior persists, discussion with her physician is needed. Medication might or might not help. But do not ignore this (potential) threat.

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Keep yourself safe! If that means you don't visit, so be it. Let the family be angry with you, you don't need to be another victom of this horrible disease.

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Well, her family should care. Instead of putting that knife down, she could have stabbed you with it. If they don't worry about her behavior, I would not visit again. It will be too late for them to act if she does hurt someone. It is sad, too because she does not really know what reality is anymore. But if my spouse wants to continue to visit, they could go themselves. She needs to be in a memory unit somewhere so she doesn't harm herself or someone else.

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