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How Do You Respond When Your Husband Asks Me To Call His Wife. He Also Keeps Asking To Go Home.

A myALZteam Member asked a question 💭
White House, TN
October 13
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A myALZteam Member

@A myALZteam Member, I had this with my grandmother, my mother and I have it now with my husband. It's very common with Alz sufferers. I think "I want to go home" is them saying that they don't feel safe due to their confusion. "Home" is a feeling, not necessarily a place. I think that feeling is what they're actually looking for.

October 14
A myALZteam Member

This unfortunately is a phase most sufferers, and their carepartners go through! Gently re-directing to another topic, our explaning, "I'm here." a few times works. Re wanting to go home, perhaps asking, "which home", may give you a hint of a childhood home. Again, redirecting to their present location as your "current home", might help. I was diagnosed almost 7 years ago, and sometimes get confused, but not to that extreme...yet!

October 13
A myALZteam Member

I did too, the hurricane coverage had him thinking we needed to pack the car and leave our home. Tom also wants to go to our other home that looks just like the one we live in. Thank the lord I now have 9 hours of caregiver support each week, the VA approved the request. Sometimes you just need to get away for a little while.

October 23
A myALZteam Member

@A myALZteam Member, I never thought of it that way. Very insightful.
@A myALZteam Member, My husband thinks he’s visiting me and asks if he can stay here and not go to his “other house.” During the recent hurricane, he also kept wanting to call his other wife (sometimes it’s his ex-wife, sometimes me) and check on her. Usually turning the TV on diverts his attention when he’s repetitive or going for a ride in the car. I had to stop playing hurricane coverage on the TV. Out of sight, out of mind, for the most part.

October 23
A myALZteam Member

Hi Shirley, I'm having the "wanting to go home" issue with my husband too. Some days I can get him out of it after a lot of discussion. Some days he walks out the door (despite the alarm) then I get in the car & pick him up before he gets too far away. I used to drive around town, but now we stop at the park & eventually he asks to go back. I'm so sorry you are having to deal with this too, I wish I could be of some help. If I ever come up with anything that works I will let you know & you do the same please. Hope there is some comfort in knowing you are not alone in this.

October 14

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