Expert: Michalene Peticca - 3/22/2010

Question
Our loved one is in stage 7. She is 90 years old. She requires care in all situations. It takes 2 of us to get her up to potty, and move her to her recliner. She refuses to eat or drink most of the time. However we have been told by one relative that when she is in her care that she eats, drinks and walks herself to the bath room! Could she possibly change her behavior from 1 caregiver to another? She does not communicate, except for a word or 2. She has heart failure, and tires very easily when we try to move her for bathing, bed changing or anything else.  We are baffled by this change in her with this relative, who only sees her about once every 2 weeks.
Thank you for your insight.

Answer
Hello Marie,

Anything is possible with Alzheimer's disease!  However, it would be a rare situation where an individual would "change" this dramatically from one caregiver to another.

Perhaps you can go along sometime to this caregiver's house and be in another "room" unseen and watch for yourself if this is really happening.   And, if it is, how is this caregiver getting her to do tasks for herself.

If she really is...that would make your caretaking a whole lot easier!

Best of luck,
Michalene Peticca, MA