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A myALZteam Member asked a question 💭
Orlando, FL

My Dad was never officially diagnosed, I had him tested but was told he was did not meet all of the criteria. (what that exactly meant I am not sure) However, he is 89 and cannot recall breakfast at our 10:00 AM coffee, he only speaks of his childhood, cannot remember any events after 1965, I have to tell him how and or who is calling (as in this is Barbara your middle daughter, etc.). This is my first post/question. My Dad will be sitting and I will look over and he is punching the air and… read more

September 23, 2020
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Answer Summary

Members responded to a daughter seeking help for her 89-year-old father who experiences mysterious physical behaviors (like punching the air)... Read more

Members responded to a daughter seeking help for her 89-year-old father who experiences mysterious physical behaviors (like punching the air) and severe memory loss, with several urging her to seek a second medical opinion, particularly from a geriatric doctor or neurologist, as his symptoms suggest possible Lewy Body Dementia or another form of dementia requiring proper cognitive assessment. Several members offered creative practical solutions, including painting a bug in the toilet or using a blue toilet seat to help with aim (since white can be hard for aging eyes to distinguish), and one member suggested asking if her father had been a boxer, as people with dementia sometimes reprise physical activities from earlier in life. A recurring theme was the importance of getting a thorough neuropsychological evaluation and exploring whether nighttime or daytime medications might help manage the hallucinatory episodes.

A myALZteam Member

Hi
Agree, second opinions by neurologist. One thing I did for my dad was get a blue toilet seat. It helped as the white was is hard for them to distinguish. Best of luck.

September 23, 2020
A myALZteam Member

My husband sometimes does this at night in bed. Very scary. Nighttime meds have helped perhaps something in the day?

October 20, 2020
A myALZteam Member

What a straight forward idea and not hard to do.

September 25, 2020
A myALZteam Member

Yes maybe a different doctor would be good - a geriatric doctor. Alz.com does offer a lot. What kind of testing did he have done? My husband went to a neuropsychologist for testing and it was an all day thing.

September 23, 2020
A myALZteam Member

A medical evaluation at a different doctor might be a good start. Doctors (and nurses) are .trained to ask a few basic questions such as “what is the date”, “can you draw a clock face”,. . My wife went through this test three times (the Mini Mental Test) and failed each one. Also, ALZ.ORG publishes a simple list of 10 early warning signs of dementia. You could do your own evaluation of your father’s actions compared to that list. Good luck.

September 23, 2020

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