Is there anything nice you can do for someone who has it??

[rOsie80]

My granny has developed dementia - at 92 she's still physically fit and able so always been with family at Xmas but this year I think she'll be in respite care. My mum and aunt are exhausted caring for her. She gets very negative and has started to lose the social filter so says upsetting things and can be very negative... it's really hard to think of anything anyone can do that will make her feel better or she'll genuinely appreciate - I tend to talk to her about stuff in her past as her long term memory is much better than her short but beyond that it's really difficult to get away from the harsh reality of the situation and have her descend into negativity even when lucid. Does anyone have any ideas of had any experience here that might help... it's so sad, and it'd just be nice to be able to something that made things seem better

Hi, how about making a compilation of music that she remembers from her youth. People with dementia can really connect with this. Or go through some old photos. They often can remember the distant past very well. Hope you can cheer her up.

An album of family members clearly labelled with their relationship to her. ‘Colin, son in law, married to Irene, your 2nd daughter’

Music - from the Second WW? I used to volunteer in a care home and the residents loved it.

Definitely Music. My mum could sing every word of songs from years ago, but the didn't know any of her children's names.
Mum also loved getting her nails done. I used to spend hours painting her nails,putting on hand cream.
Also liked looking at photo's.

Your mum and aunt need some breaks - get a carers assessment from your local authority and join your local carers organisation.