A couple of weeks ago my 90 year old Mom started to cry as I was getting ready to leave after a visit. When asked what was wrong she said she just loved me. I live 15 minutes away and see her 4 times a week. She did the same thing with her nurse 2 days ago. When asked what was wrong, again she said that she loved me. She has had 2 mini strokes and does have dementia. She receives excellent care at a skilled nursing facility and aside from these episodes and a failing memory is doing great! Has anybody else dealt with this and if so, how did you manage? I have tried reassuring her and making her laugh, which worked in the short term.
Thank you in advance.
Is there a geriatric psychiatrist who visits the NH? You might want to have that person see your mom, ahd share this recent crying with her/him. Not all sadness is depression, but depression can affect one's health in many ways.
The last time I saw one of my most favorite people in the world, (my Great Grandpa), he cried as we were pulling out of the driveway. They'd always stood on their front porch and waved goodbye to us, always in good spirits after a nice visit. He was a tough guy, never saw him cry, or anything close to it. But he balled his eyes out as we were leaving that time, I think he did KNOW he wouldn't see us again. Years later, his DIL, my GMA started to do that too when we left. She started to stand at her front door with red wet eyes, and try to smile, as she waved goodbye. She did that the last 3 visits. I had a voice mail from her the day before she passed, that said "I called because I wanted you to know that I love, love, love you, baby girl." Not the usual type of message she'd leave. She had a major stroke a few hours later and passed the next morning.
So, even though Mom wasn't one to cry, she will sometimes cry because she's happy,too, and never did that, before. Similar to the last post, I mean. Sometimes, I think she cries because she's glad to be alive another day (and she's not in any pain, so it's probably easier to be glad than if she was suffering).
Sometimes, when she cries and thanks me for all I do, I think it could be a combination of frustration that she can't do as much by herself as she used to and a little relief that I'm here to help her. She's aware of people who really have no-one at all and I think she feels grateful.
Also, anti-depressants are yet another pill to take. At 86, Mom has whittled herself down to three meds and not eager to change that formula, right now. I'm just pointing that out before someone writes to me to tell me how much she probably needs them.
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