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Can anyone think of why my Mom, who has Alzheimer's, is obsessed with all forms of trash? She is unsteady on her feet but still living at home with the 24/7 caregivers I set up for her. If even two little pieces of trash are put into her kitchen trash, she wants to instantly take that to her outside can, which means someone has to accompany her. She never cares about most days of the week but she knows when the city trash pick-up day is. At 6:30 AM or 11:00 PM, in the dark, she insists on rolling the clankety, noisy can to the street. I've tried explaining that this will disturb the neighbors, but she doesn't care. For entire trash pickup day, she will sit at the window watching for the trash truck to come. If they haven't come by 2:00 PM, she enters a new stage of irritability and starts demanding to know when they're coming. She's now even begun focusing on the neighbor's (most work and get home after dark) trash cans. If they haven't picked their cans up when Mom thinks they should, Mom wants to totter out to their driveways and bring their cans in. We all try to redirect her focus, to no avail. This has all become very draining trying to keep her from going out in the dark in her dubious neighborhood. Help?

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Do mention this to her doctor. It is sounding almost OCD. I am wondering if some medication might help. Problem with meds is that, even when they DO work, they have side effects that can altar balance, strength. The brain definitely makes pathways. Think of hearing a song you like frequently, and doing it in your head. It starts to come in more and more and more, and in aging can honestly be a real problem. Just like setting for replay. I wish I had something to try: I hope others do.
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Obsessive thinking in loops goes with the dementia territory. You will likely not be able to distract mom from this thought pattern for very long, or, it will change to a new and equally meaningless one. Empathy is no longer in the picture, her brain isn't working properly so trying to "explain" things to her is a waste of time. Ativan helped my mother calm down quite a bit, especially with agitation from Sundowning in late afternoons.

I suggest you read this 33 of booklet online about managing dementia and what to expect with an elder who's been diagnosed with it.

Understanding the Dementia Experience, by Jennifer Ghent-Fuller 
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/210580

Jennifer is a nurse who worked for many years as an educator and counsellor for people with dementia and their families, as well as others in caring roles. She addresses the emotional and grief issues in the contexts in which they arise for families living with dementia. The reviews for her books are phenomenal b/c they are written in plain English & very easy to read/understand. Her writings have been VERY helpful for me.

The full copy of her book is available here:

https://www.amazon.com/Thoughtful-Dementia-Care-Understanding-Experience/dp/B09WN439CC/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2E7WWE9X5UFXR&keywords=jennifer+ghent+fuller+books&qid=1657468364&sprefix=jennifer+ghent%2Caps%2C631&sr=8-2

Good luck to you see 
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NeedHelpWithMom Apr 2023
Ativan helped my mom too.
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I'm chuckling a little at this.

If this is your only problem with mom--geez, be grateful!

I can't think her neighbors would really be put out by this. What I'd worry about is that she's rolling the cans out at night and could fall and not be found.

Maybe a chat with a close neighbor who wouldn't mind just keeping an eye open for her? I know we watch out for our elderly neighbors and have a close sense of community.

As far as the OCD--I can only wish you luck. It's a terribly hard thing to overcome--and mom probably won't.
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Sounds like anxiety. Mild dose of meds could help.
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I agree with others to ask her doctor about prescribing meds to calm her anxiety.

My mom had anxiety about arriving at the doctor’s office on time. We were never late for any appointments. I made sure to have her there early.

Then, my mother would say to me, “Honey, why do we have to wait so long to see the doctor?” I told her, “Mom, we are a few minutes early for your appointment because you become anxious about being late, so we are going to have to wait for a bit longer.”

This type of behavior goes along with the territory of dementia.
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Could you play into it a bit? Like turn it into an activity to sort the (clean) trash and take it outside a few times a day? It's good physical activity even if it feels dumb to you.

I remember my friends grandpa no longer understood why the seasons changed and why the leaves were falling..he got so upset about it until she made up this wild saga of a story that entertained him for hours. Dementia reverts the mind back to that of a child.
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As long as someone is with her taking out the trash, it is most likely
something that has to be done until another obsession takes over her mind. My mom had obsessions too. She watched the neighbors' house across the street for robbers because the neighbors were in the service and out of town a lot. It seemed she thought it was her responsibility. She would tell me she saw someone upstairs in their house or someone going in their house nearly every day. Nothing was ever going on over there. All I could do was tell her I checked on it and the police have been watching for anything unusual or that it was a reflection in the window that she saw, and would even say and saw it and I was fooled too by that reflection. When they were home she watched them constantly too. She'd tell me they hadn't washed their curtains in years. Hmm, I said, should I go tell them to wash their curtains? She had a good sense of humor, so she'd laugh. When I moved her to assisted living she started it up again with a house across the street from the facility. She even had a partner then in on it. Another lady too really felt the need to watch the neighbors with her. I tried also to get her to do other things than watch the house across the street. She was on medications that were to help her with anxiety, but they didn't help with obsessions. They might for your mom though.
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At least she's keeping things tidy
:)
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My father was also obsessed with the NYC Department of Sanitation. He would constantly lecture me as to where the cans needed to be left. He was putting them on the sidewalk property line which I thought was not correct since I always put the trash a curbside. We actually got into skirmishes about this ridiculous thing. I finally asked the trash guys where the can should be placed and they said I was right. They never said anything to my dad because they knew he was elderly.

I really appreciate those guys.
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All these placating answers! If she keeps yammering on about it, put her in a facility, where paid professionals can play the loopy-loo trash can game with her. Paid for by HER, not you, of course.
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LoopyLoo Apr 2023
I have a trash can game? Cool!
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Your story reminds me of a funny trash can story from my childhood.

My uncle was always late in putting the trash cans out to be picked up. My aunt would become infuriated and yell at my uncle if the trash wasn’t picked up.

One day he was almost on time and the garbage collectors were just a couple of houses ahead collecting the neighbor’s trash. So, he whistled at them and motioned for them to return to his house. They did and he gave them a big tip!

LOL 😆, the garbage collectors started waiting outside of his home when he was late, knowing that he would always tip them heavily so he wouldn’t be yelled at by my aunt.

Hey, the bright side is like Catskie says, things are always neat at their home. The trash isn’t piling up!

As far as the neighbors being disturbed, are you kidding me? I have absolutely no idea when my neighbors are putting out their trash. I don’t know and I don’t care! I doubt that they are watching when the trash is going out.

Start looking at the real issues here, her dementia is the problem. Get her on meds so she can stop focusing on the garbage!
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I have to chuckle a Little I have trash Night too - There is a sense of accomplishment and a Job well done . Listen It is a Lot Better then a Hoarder . My Dad will sweep the floor 10 times a day and Obsess about the tiles . Obsessive compulsive disorder . You could try a Little CBD oil or a CBD gummy after Lunch to calm her . My Doctor told me " they would Let a lady with dementia fold all the Laundry all day Long Its what she Liked doing . " Having a chore gives them a sense of Purpose , structure and Routine so You should be Happy . Except for going Out in the dark . I Know the other morning someone was rifling thru our trash at 4 am and I Jumped Out of bed .
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Unsteady on her feet, she might benefit from a cane, walker or rollator. If she would benefit from one, but is resistant, you could say she MUST have one to walk out the trash. If she does have some type of walking assist and won’t give up the trash walk, she at least benefits from the exercise. Maybe an extra daily walk (not trash related) would take her mind off obsessing over the trash cans. Best wishes for your peace of mind.
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Be sure that her PCP is aware of these observed behaviors. Since they know her overall history, they may be able to offer insight and potential help based on their overall knowledge of the pt and her disease process.
It is not unusual for dementia pts ( such as Alz. pts) to perseverate on things...
is this somehow connected to her
" long term memory" that is still a bit more intact than the" short term memory" ???? Who knows....
Keeping her safe is the key factor
( as well as your sanity).
Could you perhaps place her in the house where she does not have such a direct line of vision to the curb where garbage trucks / cans are ?? Maybe play some of her generation music during that time of garbage collection?? ( Mute the sounds from outside). You may have already tried these.

Speak with her PCP. She may have increased anxiety associated with her disease process; the PCP may have alternative treatment that may help both keep her safe, decrease anxiety and, help preserve your sanity.

Practice good self care ! You need it! Have help so you can take a break !
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In our neighborhood we can put our trash containers by the street the evening before so possibly add this to the caregiver's duties. If you have a good relationship with your neighbors perhaps you could offer to have your caregivers can go with her (or even alone if she is not able) to bring their trash containers back to their houses. There is an older able bodied lady in our neighborhood that does this for several neighbors for exercise. As far as emptying the kitchen trash too often, perhaps have a container out of sight that you could collect it in then put it in the kitchen trash at a convenient time for her notice and help someone take it outside.

Sometimes those with dementia need a job to do and maybe she has decided this is her responsibility because no one lets her do anything else. Here are a couple links to an example I had seen several years ago of how important this may be and how it may solve some anxiety issues...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_sbiUC5wE8
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1657471264311943

Fortunately my husband is not on that level so far, but I have begun trying to ask him to help whenever I have a simple job he can do. He has gotten good at moving clothes from the washer to the dryer. However, I do have to watch him and be specific because once he picked up clothes off the floor and added them to dryer along with the wet clothes.
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My mother, 97, is also obsessed about trash day. It seems to be a common theme. As well as locking the doors and people getting in the house and stealing.

So, I am the one on meds now. My skin is broken out, I’ve lost and gained weight, and my hair is gone grey. I don’t eat properly and I feel I will die before her. Her OCD behaviour, her agitation, her night wandering, bathroom hygiene, has caused me so much pain and stress I had to say “enough”.

Luckily, we were able to get her into a beautiful facility and I am trying not to be a helicopter daughter. It’s still tough and I worry, but someone on this forum said, “it can’t be all about her all the time!”. That really helped and I tell myself that every day. I’m easier on myself now.
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Patathome01 Apr 2023
Your 97-year-old mother should be placed in a memory care facility.
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My mom is obsessed with laundry basket..needs to have wash done nonstop. Basket has to be empty. Lewy Body Dementia diagnosis..
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Zookie Apr 2023
This is my husband! If there are even just a couple of things in the laundry basket, he'll run a load. Sometimes I'm frustrated by this behavior, but then I remember he's trying to help. This behavior stopped about a week ago, all on its own (at least I don't know why he suddenly stopped caring about it so much). He will still do laundry, but at least now he'll let more things accumulate. My husband has Vascular Dementia from a stroke a year ago, but they think something else was going on (congnitively) for years before that, but undiagnosed. Various tests have been done and we are expecting more answers at his neurologist visit May 12th.
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Solution: HIDE the household trash somewhere she won't look instead of throwing it into a convenient trash can where she can see it.

The trash can will always be empty, then, and presumably she will have some peace from her obsessive need to take it out -- as will you?!

It might be a little inconvenient to always whisk every bit of trash away into a hidden trashcan location, but still less maddening than taking a trashcan to the curb every minute of every day. Think of it like going camping and not leaving a bit of trash out or it will attract raccoons?! Your mom is a raccoon...

Anyway, the point is that you can't change your mom's obsession so the only thing you can change is the trash itself. If your mom is perfectly happy and contented with her obsession, then it makes little sense to give her anxiety medication, which comes with side-effects.
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My husband had obsession with emptying the trash. Each waste basket had to have a separate trash bag. I objected because we were using many trash bags each week. He got furious with me for wanting to save trash bags. This made no sense to me but dementia doesn't make any sense either!
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My mom had a thing for buttons! She almost threw herself out of her lift chair from playing with the buttons.
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Ninecats: Due to dementia, your mother has developed a fixation that is not easily broken.
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