My father-n-law also has the same confusion. Actually it is quite bad. It is his fantasy now. He had done research all his life as professor using cats. So animals are one of his favorites and fantasies. After watching animal planets, he would find the hippo, allegator, elephant, pigs, dogs, and even operation table interesting and he thoguht these are reall in his life. Once he asked the caregiver to sweep off the allegaor and he asked if we would adopt the hippo and etc. He asked to do research on the pigs....

The caregivers now use the DVD/CD player to play music. Music is his favorite too.

So playing classical music helps a lot to distract him. Gradually he won't understand the tv at all. For now he is watching it like a child not knowing what is going on really. Same thing when he reads the magazine or newspaper - he would say he does not understand the article. Not only that, he gets angry if it is not resolved. So we need to distract him.

For some reason, he has trouble with the tv and the space around him. He cannot tell if it is in the tv box or if it is real in his living room.

About scratching or rubbing, he is scratching himself a lot. Someone has to tell him to stop scratching or distract him. Now he does not rub a lot except when he is outdoors.

The key is distraction. I don't know what else to do. We cannot help if he is getting worse in his cognition leve.

Take care,

Nina

Rose Mary I can't answer your question but I can tell you are at the right place to find answers. My husband has alzheimers and has been a Dallas cowboy football fan ever since I met him. When he lost both legs he had to sleep in a hospital bed and has had his own room for some time. He loves them so much he had me decorate his room in cowboy football everything is dallas cowboys. Last sunday I went in to talk to him and ask what he was doing he was watching them play and he looked at me and could not get the words out. This man that has always been a fan could not say football. I lose him more each day to this horrible disease, he rarely lives his room and never leaves the house except to go to the doctor and that is even getting harder to get him to do. Keep asking questions and take your mother to the doctor. Not all forms of dementia are alzheimers but you need to find out for her and for your self something is definately wrong. The more you know the better you are prepared to deal with. May God bless you and if you ever want to just talk I will listen as so many others on this site will. I haven't been on here long but all the people are here for you, it's almost an extended family you will find. Keep talking there is hope. Connie