Funniest/strangest dementia patient stories - page 11

Several come to mind. Inpatient geropsych unit in a metropolitan hospital, female patient who seemed to have her days and nights inverted, resisted being put to bed at night. Would walk the halls checking doors and looking in rooms. Found out after talking to family members that she was a retired RN who worked night shift for many years. I noticed that when she checked doors, it wasn't as if she was trying to escape the unit, but rather that she was checking to make sure that the doors were secured. If we let her sit in the nurse station for a few minutes and arrange papers, she was much happier because she believed that she was helping.

Inpatient geropsych unit, free-standing mental health hospital. Female patient who didn't seem to have much memory left, walked by the desk where we had a copy of the patient rules and regulations out on the counter. Stopped, picked up the paper, read aloud word for word what was on the paper, put it down, and immediately walked into another patient's room.

Inpatient adult mental health unit. Male patient from our companion geropsych unit came over to sit in the activity room. Spotted the piano, sat down and played beautifully (this man couldn't remember his own name).

Same unit as above. Male patient from geropsych unit, convinced that he was the President of the United States. Wasn't happy until I agreed to sit down with him and listen to his ideas about foreign policy.