Mailbox Response

The question was submitted 07/07/2007

Subject: Does he know who I am?

My Dad has recently been tansferred from a Level 3 dementia facility into a hospital facility for assesment. My understanding is this was because he was having falls and they are trying to get him on the correct medication.When I visited him in the Level 3 facility he at times knew who I was and called me by name.Now however he just looks at me with no recognition but what seems to me at times a fleeting look of ' puzzlement ' in his eyes as if he does know me but can't verbalize it. these moments are brief. At these times he will also squeeze my hand. Am I kidding myself completely that he is gone beyond knowing me? Or is it possible that he has little ' windows '.? I continue to talk to him as if he can comprehend. he is currantly on Quetiapine. thank you for your time.

Answer from DementiaNet

Brain function fluctuates from day to day and week to week in dementia. So fleeting improvements are normal. It is possible that some improvement may occur.

Deterioration in brain function can be due to reversible factors e.g. toxic drugs, fecal impaction, infections etc. So your father's doctors will be determining if any of these factors are present. On the other hand the deterioration of the disease will inevitably cause Dad to at some point not recognise you and naturally this will not recover.

It would be best to talk to the doctors and see if there are any reversible factors that may be present. '

The answer was published on DementiaNet 01/08/2007