“He couldn’t recognize me as his wife.”

4

Have more questions and don't know where to turn?


Join our community and get access to monthly support calls, an online chat forum for questions, and even monthly 1:1 calls with Rachael! CLICK HERE for more information.

Bethany had noticed that her husband’s condition was declining. Samuel was much more confused than he’d been before, and his word-finding abilities were getting worse. He had an Alzheimer’s diagnosis and was being followed by both a psychiatrist and a geriatrician, which was helpful.

Still, it didn’t seem like the disease had progressed that quickly—until they went on vacation. The couple had had a difficult plane trip. It was long, it was cold, and there was a layover. To make matters worse, the flight was also happening in the evening. By the time they arrived at their destination, Samuel was clearly confused. 

It was 2:00 in the morning, and things just weren’t right. Suddenly, Samuel turned to his wife and yelled, “Who are you!?” Understandably frightened, Bethany called their daughter, who was staying in a different hotel. 

The next morning, everything was back to normal. Samuel recognized his wife again, and there were no other issues.

When I first heard this story, I suggested that Samuel might have a urinary tract infection, as those are common in causing delirium. Bethany noted that she’d had him checked for a UTI, and the test was negative. Once she explained more about the stressful plane right, though, it made sense: the plane ride, the exhaustion, and the stress had caused this sudden onset of extra confusion.

While dementia does not often get “suddenly” worse (unless there is a fall or other medical incident) there are times that people with dementia may experience delirium, which is a sudden onset of confusion. Delirium can be caused by a lot of things, namely UTIs, sleep deprivation, medication mishaps, strokes, falls, and more. 

Fortunately, this episode passed very quickly, but if a friend with dementia undergoes bizarre and fast changes like these, it is best for them to see a doctor as soon as possible. 

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Rachael Wonderlin is an internationally-recognized dementia care expert and consultant. She has a Master’s in Gerontology and is the author of three published books with Johns Hopkins University Press. Rachael owns Dementia By Day, a dementia care consulting and education company.

16 things poster
Get the FREE “16 Things” poster!

You're not alone!

Get personal support from Rachael and connect with other Caregivers when you join our community.

16 Things I Would Want If I Got Dementia

Get the FREE “16 Things” poster for your personal use—or better yet—your dementia care community’s staff break room!

I wrote this poem years ago, but to date, it’s the most popular piece I’ve ever created.

16 things poster
Shopping Cart