My Loved One keeps repeating the same questions over and over. How should I deal with that?
It is very common for individuals who have problems with their memory to become confused and engage in asking repetitive questions over and over to the point of being irritating to family and friends. It might be helpful to think of your loved one as struggling with trying to make sense of their surroundings. The following are some suggestions that families have found helpful in coping with a sometimes-frustrating behavior that is often a symptom of a dementia.
Respond to person’s emotion by guessing why loved one might be asking the question and address that issue.
Reassure loved one that everything is fine and you will take care of things (Sometimes, a person may be concerned about something that they are not able to express in words, so offering a response such as this may relieve some worry.)
Answer the repetitive question over and over for as long as you can tolerate
Distract with “helpful tasks” (folding towels, sorting pictures, dusting, winding yarn)
Engage in reminiscing
Ignore the question (This could be upsetting to your loved one, so this might not be a strategy that works for you.)
Try not to get angry with your loved one, as the repetitiveness is not a purposeful act. If the behavior becomes overwhelming make sure you get some respite care to give yourself a break for awhile so you do not grow angry with your loved one.
