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Dealing with Delusional/Uninhibited/Hypersexual Behaviors with Dementia?

Hey there. We currently care for my grandmother, who has dementia. Since her last stroke, she's become absolutely infatuated with finding a man, obsesses over anyone who gives her attention, no matter how innocent (doctors, nurses, neighbors, church members, etc) and has delusions that the other party is actually obsessing over her. She always feels that it is actually we, her, caregivers, keeping them apart, and is pretty resentful about it.

She's 76, and consistently seeks out the attention of younger men who are extremely age inappropriate (between 20-40), and when they are nice to her, it seems to reinforce the delusion of her own sex appeal. While this may sound harmless or even humorous in theory, there are some serious, but delicate boundary issues in play. The people she comes onto are members of the church, the friends of her grandchildren (she actually put her tongue in the ear of my brother's 21 year old friend recently, leaving him feeling pretty violated and confused), and even distant family members. She really has no boundaries, and it's incredibly awkward for all involved. And when we attempt to address the behavior as inappropriate, it only reinforces her delusion that she and her victim of choice are star-crossed lovers, that the family is trying to keep apart Romeo and Juliet Style. The worst incident, however, occurred last month when my grandmother (on the other side) passed away, and she started coming onto my grandfather at the memorial, as he was a newly single man. She's been asking about him ever since, which is pretty rough on my still grieving family. It's very upsetting for everyone involved, and we're really struggling to educate ourselves and find the best possible way to deal with her behavior.

I'd welcome a response from anyone who might better understand what is going on, or know some helpful ways to address/minimize it. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

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  • 8 years ago
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    I hate to say that I am glad to see this post and I am so sorry for your predicament

    but it brings up needed conversation(s)

    My by mom has moved in with us.... she is 62, but more like an 80 year old in physical & mental health

    She hits on every man who gets near her. Male nurses at dialysis, male doctors, male EMTs, male employees at Walmart --- and I mean even after they work to avoid her.

    the things she says are things that might be said by young porn stars --- for her it isn't about finding a love interest... it is "open expression" of her sexuality

    In her case, everytime we say "Mom, please, they don't need to feel harassed" she responds with "sexuality was encouraged in the 60's when I was a teen" & "we live in a prudish society"

    then she starts telling stories about how humans are sexual all the way to death.... based on her experiences working as a nurse in nursing homes. The most outward example was a women who kept going from room to room & in general living areas pulling up her skirt yelling "Lick my P***y"... and there were all sorts of stories of finding more than one person in a bed... and often times women with women due to "not enough men"

    We have tried everything, even counseling. It is well established that these things don't come out of her mouth due to dementia..... just refusal to filter & she will not agree to start filtering

    I have a friend, who's mother does have dementia who went door-to-door throughout the neighborhood asking anyone who looked like an adult to her to participate in sexual activities explaining she didn't care if it was man or woman.... unfortunately, sometimes she was hitting on 14 year old boys & girls... end result, she could no longer live at home & had to be put into a Alzheimer's unit in nursing home

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