Alzheimers; Dementia & Cursing

adrienurse, LPN · Jul 26, 2003

My guess is maybe she always wanted to curse but didn't allow herself -- now that thing in her head that censored her isn't working -- there you go.

Neurologically speaking, the language centre of her brain may be so impaired that it causes her to use words that she's not meaning to use. I mean, she's actually trying to say something else, but maybe all that's coming out is the cursing.

donmurray · Jul 26, 2003

Sounds reasonable to me. We all know the words, but also choose when it is appropriate to use them or not. As for the "F" word, most of us have not only said it, we've done it as well!

ktwlpn, LPN · Jul 26, 2003

Alzheimers and other dementia just suck.....I try to explain to the cna's that our residents are not being difficult or disgusting on purpose just to ruin the cna's day...Who really knows what is going on in their minds? We had a gal take someone's chicken wings out of the fridge and open the foil,place the wings on the window sill and defacate on the foil...Then she wrapped it up and pushed it into the corner...The housekeepers and cna's just freaked out-mind you-if the door had been locked as it was supposed to be this would not have happened to soemoen's lunch....I told them to imagine they wake up in the gutter in some foreign country-can not read or understand the language...That's how it is for these folks.....I 'll have to do some research my self into exactly how the brain is affected.The way I see it is we loose our ability to be civilized people...sad

VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN · Jul 26, 2003

Life's like a big circle... they revert back to childhood, then to infancy... their world keeps getting smaller, smaller. Eventually they can do nothing, not even swallow. It is truly the most wicked of all diseases. I've seen women who were dignified southern belles in their prime--never a hair out of place. They would be so horrified to see who they are now. The confused little lady who constantly pulls off her clothes, is incontinent and in pampers; worse yet, she fingerpaints with her stool; babbles and curses at passersby. She has lost all human dignity.

ShortFuse_LPN, LPN · Jul 27, 2003

A friend and I were discussing this not long ago. It seemed to us, based on the small amount of background info we had about certain residents, that whatever the person's personality prior to the onset of dementia/Alzheimer's it was the complete opposite afterwards.

For instance, we had a resident who was a minister's wife. Let me tell ya, she would beat the heck out of you for saying hi to her. And the language.....she could make me blush in front of visitors at times. :eek:

lindalee · Jul 27, 2003

Belinda, I have to disagree on your post because of personal experience. My mother died of a progressive dementia. She was always a lady and very gentle and remained very passive and gentle in her dementia. She was never angry, always well liked by her care givers. She went the full cycle of the disease, lost her ability to eat. We did not allow a feeding tube, she had lost the ability to walk, knew no one and there was nothing left of the wonderful woman she once was. It is a horrible disease, I would not wish it on my worst enemy. It is a very slow miserable wasting of a person and when it is your parent or loved one you cannot imagine how painful it is to watch the steady loss of their abilities. Every visit brings new pain--and just a little less of who they were the last time you were there. Bless all of you who care for these poor lost souls and do so gently and with patience.

ShortFuse_LPN, LPN · Jul 27, 2003

Linda, I'm sorry your mother suffered through dementia. I agree with you, it is a horrible disease. Thank God these afflicted people don't know what has happened to them.

I didn't mean to say that everyone with dementia/Alzheimer's becomes violent or that they all cuss like sailors. Thanks for bringing that to my attention.:)

Grace Oz · Jul 27, 2003

Catholic nuns with dementia.... now THAT'S another thread!!...

My professionalism & sense of respect & sympathy, prohibits me sharing what I witnessed.

However, it is interesting about the language theory.

My heart goes out to all who suffer & their loved ones who suffer as they witness. And God bless the carers.

Grace

Tookie · Jul 28, 2003

As dementia progresses often our learnt social skills are unlearnt our inhibitions are unable to be controlled and the memory of being socially acceptable are lost - This is a saad side afffect of some dementing processes.

Dementia will never take the same course with every one - a lot of it will depend upon where the damage has occurred with in the brain and their own past learned experiences.

we as nurses must learn to manage the care and move on past the behavoiur - the behavoiur is never directed at you the nurse as a person - By learning the different ways of behavoiural mangement and shring this managment we will get a happier resident and happier staff -

night owl · Jul 28, 2003

Originally posted by Tookie
As dementia progresses often our learnt social skills are unlearnt our inhibitions are unable to be controlled and the memory of being socially acceptable are lost

Oh nooo, That means when I get dementia, my inhibitions will be showing???? :eek: :chair:

Tookie · Jul 29, 2003

When l get dementia - it will be more than the inhibitions showing it will be -

Helping the nurses write their documnetation notes

Telling the nurses on nights what to do and when

Singing anytime l want

An best of all totally ignoring any doctors advise

Any more you can think of

As well as the inhibitions going out the window ---- well l hope not too many l am not a very pretty sight naked. !!!

Oh yes l will expect a large nightly sherry --- as in a brandy balloon size LOL.

Tookie