Kind Ways to Respond When a Person With Dementia Forgets Someone Has Died

[luvs2sing]

5. We had a tough time with this with my MIL for a while.

FIL died in 2008, and MIL had pretty severe dementia by 2012, when SIL, her daughter and caregiver, died unexpectedly. She was aware what was going on at the funeral but within a few months would ask where her daughter was or where her husband was. Hubster and I would simply say they were together.

“I don’t know why Suzi isn’t here yet. Where is she?”
“She’s doing something with Dad. I think she’s stopping by later.”

We said it in such a way that it sounded like they could be out getting bagels. A few times reality would break through, and she would seem to remember they were both dead, but she didn’t get terribly upset. She would just sigh and say, “Oh, I know..”