Expert: Paula Damgaard - 6/19/2005

Question
My daughter came recently to visit with our baby grandaughter. She accidently left her dummy. Now my husband, who has had alzheimers for 2 years found it and enjoys using it. If i try to take it from him he screams and wants it back.What do i do? Do i ignore him and hope he looses interest in it?  

Answer
Hi Sarah,  I hate to seem dumb but I have no idea what a dummy is.  

The questions that need to be asked are: does your daughter need it back now?  Can it hurt him? What does he do with it?  Is there something else that attracts his interest more?

I am thinking now as I write this that maybe you are talking about a pacifier???  IF that is the case then I don't see any reason to take it from him.  My take on people with this disease is that life is short and anything that gives them any kind of pleasure then they should have it!  If you are concerned about what people think, then try to talk to him and tell him that it is alright if he has it but that perhaps he should put it away in a safe spot when others come so "no one takes it" or whatever excuse you want to use to get him to put it away when others come.  

Other than that I see no reason why he shouldn't have it.  Hope this helps.  Paula