Full Monty

[Guest guest]

Dad's just had several days of taking his clothes off all the time.

Soemthing he's not done before. The other night he was standing up

between mouthfuls of his meal to try and get his trousers off. Today

the care staff tell me he's been stripping off in the corridor. He's

managed to lose most of his clothes, presumably scattered around the

nursing home

Is this something that normally happens? Any thoughts on why or what

might improve things?

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/18/2006 5:42:47 P.M. Central Standard Time,

janetcolello@... writes:

Or, get the song " The Stripper " and sell tickets at

the door.

That's a great line! Belly laugh, which we need around here today. Arlene

[Guest guest]

Hi,

Yes, my husband too does this. He started about 2

years ago.

Is your dad incontinent at all? My husband strips his

pants off if he hasn't been changed on time. He will

take it all off and leave it on the floor. A few years

back when I left him for respite in Assisted Living,

he took his clothes all off when they hadn't changed

him in time in the early morning, so when he woke up

he walked out into the hallway Buck Naked, because he

does not know how to use the button to call for help

in his room. He speaks about himself in the third

person when he talks to me and was telling me on the

way home when I picked him up. " He took his pants off

and was naked in the hallway " like he was speaking of

another person.

Jim strips his shirts off in front of guests and at

his Day Program and almost anywhere, but he really

can't take his pants off, because he is in a

wheelchair sitting down. He can strip all of his

clothes off if he is laying down on the bed, he

wiggles out of them and that is how he got out of them

at Assisted Living.

I recently went to the Symposium in Washington DC and

warned the director about Jim and told her it would

be best if she had a room available at the very end of

the hall of the dementia wing, because the closer he

is to the lounge area where visitors come in, he may

appear in the buff for all to see, so she warned all

the staff and had a room for him at the end of the

hall. They told me he did strip down, but he never got

to the lounge, since he can not walk that far.

I have read that there are special clothes in catalogs

for people that strip that zip in the back, so they

can not remove them.

Or, get the song " The Stripper " and sell tickets at

the door.

If you find a solution let me know. I can not do the

zip in the back clothes, because Jim is combative

about toileting issues and I would never get near him

to unzip the wet clothes and get them off.

Jan Colello

--- four4ish wrote:

> Dad's just had several days of taking his clothes

> off all the time.

> Soemthing he's not done before. The other night he

> was standing up

> between mouthfuls of his meal to try and get his

> trousers off. Today

> the care staff tell me he's been stripping off in

> the corridor. He's

> managed to lose most of his clothes, presumably

> scattered around the

> nursing home

>

> Is this something that normally happens? Any

> thoughts on why or what

> might improve things?

>

>

>

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

What kind of medicine is he taking? My husband did

that some when he was in a rehabilitation hospital for

a broken shoulder and they were giving him neuroleptic

drugs.

--- four4ish wrote:

> Dad's just had several days of taking his clothes

> off all the time.

> Soemthing he's not done before. The other night he

> was standing up

> between mouthfuls of his meal to try and get his

> trousers off. Today

> the care staff tell me he's been stripping off in

> the corridor. He's

> managed to lose most of his clothes, presumably

> scattered around the

> nursing home

>

> Is this something that normally happens? Any

> thoughts on why or what

> might improve things?

>

>

>

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Aine,

That seems to be a stage Mom went through also and I would go into the nh and

find her half dressed. I tried to figure out what this was about as she didn't

do it at home. I wonder if it were the drugs in some way, maybe she was

getting to warm. Or was it a stage, as she was a very conservative lady. I

ended up putting 2 hospital dressing gowns, one front ward and one backward to

make it impossible for her to get them off.

I also wondered if maybe she thought she should get ready for bed and no one was

helping her so she was trying to do it herself.

I still don't know why she did it and it stopped after while. And she wasn't on

much in the way of drugs, unless they were giving her some I didn't know about.

So, just wanted to say " you aren't the only one. "

Donna R

Do you want to read more about Lewy Body? You can also read the Thistle, the

LBD Newsletter. Just click on:

http://www.lewybodydementia.org

Re: Full Monty

[Guest guest]

My mother went through this phase too when she first moved into the

2nd Assisted Living Facility w/ Dementia Unit right out of the

hospital where she received all those meds in November 2005. Mom was

always hot blooded anyway (in the past she would sleep in the dead of

winter with the bedroom window open for some fresh air (fresh NE

frigid air)) and I believe the meds were giving her extreme hot

flashes. And it continued after she moved into the Nursing Home in

11/05 - so on the advice of the head coordinator we purchased those

one piece suits that zipper in the back from Buck & Buck.

http://www.buckandbuck.com/

But the aides weren't dressing mom in them and we found out they

weren't because they weren't the ones that open in the back for

toileting or change of diapers. So we brought these suits to the dry

cleaners and requested that they turn them into open back suits with

velcrow. When we got them back the aides put them on my mother and

she was so hot and uncomfortable in them (we had purchased the

sweatsuit style) so now they're hanging in mom's closet not being

used at all. (Which is a shame, we'll probably give them to the head

nurse on the dementia floor to give to those residents who can use

them)

But my mother doesn't try to undress herself anymore. We started to

have the aides dress mom in a T-shirt and sweatshirt so if she got

hot she can take the sweatshirt off - but it was unnecessary it was

temporary reaction for my mother to undress herself. And I am

convinced that she was having extreme hot flashes from the meds (or

the detoxing from the meds)....

; loving daughter of Maureen of Boston, MA; finally diagnosed

with LBD on 2/06 after also being diagnosed with everything from AD

to Vascular Dementia caused by mini strokes to Binswengers...; was

victim to rapid progression from Risperidone (or combination of

Risperidone with other drugs OR possibly received another " bad drug "

when she was observed/tested in a hospital in 10/05); in a NH since

11/05.

>

> Dad's just had several days of taking his clothes off all the time.

> Soemthing he's not done before. The other night he was standing up

> between mouthfuls of his meal to try and get his trousers off.

Today

> the care staff tell me he's been stripping off in the corridor.

He's

> managed to lose most of his clothes, presumably scattered around the

> nursing home

>

> Is this something that normally happens? Any thoughts on why or what

> might improve things?

>

[Guest guest]

4ish (Aine, I think?)

Dad did this all the time. He would randomly start stripping. Sometimes he

thought it was bed time, and sometimes he said his clothes were uncomfortable.

However, the most embarassing time was when my 19-year-old niece was visiting.

Dad stripped completely and said he wanted to have sex.

Margee

LO--Dad

Passed away 12-2-05

[Guest guest]

Thanks all of your for your replies to this. It helps to be among

friends who've been here before. Wish I'd found this site earlier on

in this nightmare.

Don't think it's medication cos that's not changed, he complains of

being cold, so doubt he's too hot. It could be something to do with

continence ...... they've been putting him in 'nappies' soemtimes and

that's new to him and he doesn't like them (not surprisingly). Also I

realise now, something to do with not having his braces on .... he

threw me for a while cos he was asking for something and talking about

" one that goes down the front there " (and pointing to where a tie

might go). Then I realised that before he went in the nh he was in

the habit of putting his braces on backwards, so there was indeed " one

that goes down the front " and two down the back. With his braces on he

seemed a happier chappie.

I did look into the possiblity of selling tickets for " the stripper "

but then realised there was a rival act down the corridor and it

probably wasn't worth the competition It helps at least to know

we're not alone.

Áine

>

> 4ish (Aine, I think?)

>

> Dad did this all the time. He would randomly start stripping.

Sometimes he thought it was bed time, and sometimes he said his

clothes were uncomfortable. However, the most embarassing time was

when my 19-year-old niece was visiting. Dad stripped completely and

said he wanted to have sex.

>

> Margee

>

>

> LO--Dad

> Passed away 12-2-05

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Got a kick out of reading there was " a rival act down the

corridor and it probably wasn't worth the competition " ...

made me laugh out loud. Well, there is always live

entertainment, something to make popcorn.

I remember when my dad had went through this phase.

He was so shy growing up, never even saw him in

his underclothes. Then, he would parade around the

hallways as if it was a normal day. I did a lot of

ceiling watching during those times. I did attribute some

of those times to wet clothes, others were completely

unexplainable...all somewhat embarrassing.

Stay strong and keep in mind...this too shall pass-

Sandie

Des Moines, IA - USA

-- Re: Full Monty

Thanks all of your for your replies to this. It helps to be among

friends who've been here before. Wish I'd found this site earlier on

in this nightmare.

Don't think it's medication cos that's not changed, he complains of

being cold, so doubt he's too hot. It could be something to do with

continence ...... they've been putting him in 'nappies' soemtimes and

that's new to him and he doesn't like them (not surprisingly). Also I

realise now, something to do with not having his braces on .... he

threw me for a while cos he was asking for something and talking about

" one that goes down the front there " (and pointing to where a tie

might go). Then I realised that before he went in the nh he was in

the habit of putting his braces on backwards, so there was indeed " one

that goes down the front " and two down the back. With his braces on he

seemed a happier chappie.

I did look into the possiblity of selling tickets for " the stripper "

but then realised there was a rival act down the corridor and it

probably wasn't worth the competition It helps at least to know

we're not alone.

Áine

>

> 4ish (Aine, I think?)

>

> Dad did this all the time. He would randomly start stripping.

Sometimes he thought it was bed time, and sometimes he said his

clothes were uncomfortable. However, the most embarassing time was

when my 19-year-old niece was visiting. Dad stripped completely and

said he wanted to have sex.

>

> Margee

>

>

> LO--Dad

> Passed away 12-2-05

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Aine,

My Dad also used braces (suspenders in the US). However, his stripping became

so bad, we made him change from the braces to using a belt. My husband used a

leather punch to make a large hole where the main part of the belt met the

tongue. We used a small luggage lock to lock his belt closed. Dad could still

take off his shirt, undershirt, socks, and shoes, but he couldn't completely

remove his trousers. He didn't like this state of affairs at all and would

continually ask us to " take this lock off my body. " He could (and did)still

strip completely when he was in his pajamas. However, it did save some

embarassing moments.

Margee

LO--Dad

Passed away 12-2-05

[Guest guest]

Your story is equally cute. Oh what fun we have if we only look with a

different eye. Not with dread, but with celebrating life. Even in bad

situations,

there can be funny moments.

Imogene

Caregiver for my True Texas Gentleman husband of 35 years. He has AD and

possibly LBD, is Taking Aricept and Risperdal. Age 72 in May.

In a message dated 3/19/2006 11:26:32 PM Central Standard Time, gaat@...

writes:

Imogene,

I couldn't help but smile reading your post about your mom and her room

mate. It reminded me of a something that happened to my SIL. They got

a contract to paint a NH and while they were painting some renovations

were being done in the residents bathrooms. It so happened that the

toilets were being replaced in the residents bathrooms and one little

old lady told my SIL that she had to go. He said he was sorry but that

all the toilets had been removed and placed in the hall until the new

ones came in. Yep, you guessed it. She used the toilet that was in the

hall waiting to be removed.

Courage

Welcome to LBDcaregivers.

[Guest guest]

Imogene,

I couldn't help but smile reading your post about your mom and her room

mate. It reminded me of a something that happened to my SIL. They got

a contract to paint a NH and while they were painting some renovations

were being done in the residents bathrooms. It so happened that the

toilets were being replaced in the residents bathrooms and one little

old lady told my SIL that she had to go. He said he was sorry but that

all the toilets had been removed and placed in the hall until the new

ones came in. Yep, you guessed it. She used the toilet that was in the

hall waiting to be removed.

Courage

[Guest guest]

My husband is still at home and we have the problems you described on and

off. I try to listen to him so that I can come into the bathroom and

'supervise' before things get out of hand. It is unbelievable at times. He is

trying

to take off the Depends and his outer wear is still on, or as you say, he is

trying to get a pad. Of course, not all days are like this, some days are

ok. Up and down, up and down. Deep breaths..... Arlene

[Guest guest]

If your events weren't so sad, they would be hilarious!

Imogene

In a message dated 3/27/2006 5:07:50 PM Central Standard Time,

mckendrsusan@... writes:

I am only thankful as you all describe this with your fathers or

husbands or FIL that it is my Mom I am taking care of. I don't know

if I could handle my Dad stripping or having to help him with his

depends. My brother has the same issue in regard to my Mom although

he's almost gotten past it some days. Depends on her level of

awareness!

The one funny story I remember about my Mom was when she had her

open heart surgery ( & again, on hindsight, probably had the

beginnings of LBD). She was a day or two past surgery and still had

a lot of lines in. My sister was coming to visit her and right

behind her in the hallway was the minister of my parent's church,

who was talking to my sister when they realized they were going the

same place. My sister walks in first and sees my Mom standing there

stark naked, with her gown down around her feet and she's all

wrapped up in the tubes. She was totally in a confused state. My

sister took one look and turned around and pushed the minister back

out the door and pretty much slammed it in his face! She apologized

later, of course, and he understood exactly why she did it. To this

day we have not told my mother in what state her minister saw her,

she would be mortified!! I don't think we ever even told my Dad

since we were afraid he'd give into temptation and tell her

sometime!!

It is a crazy disease, that's for sure. Good thing for laughter!

-- In LBDcaregivers , Zweibeers@... wrote:

>

>

>

> My husband is still at home and we have the problems you described

on and

> off. I try to listen to him so that I can come into the bathroom

and

> 'supervise' before things get out of hand. It is unbelievable at

times. He is trying

> to take off the Depends and his outer wear is still on, or as you

say, he is

> trying to get a pad. Of course, not all days are like this, some

days are

> ok. Up and down, up and down. Deep breaths..... Arlene

>

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

>

Welcome to LBDcaregivers.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/27/2006 6:40:45 P.M. Central Standard Time,

janetcolello@... writes:

" To pee or not to pee, that is the question "

Thanks for the belly laugh. Arlene

[Guest guest]

It looks like a lot of dad's " stripper " routine is caused by his

problems with incontinence pads (which he hates with a vengeance) and

trying to get to the toilet. He seems to be in an in-between stage

where he's not really able to take himself to the toilet, but isn't

quite incapable either ..... so he goes off by himself and gets in a

mess. He's been stripping off in the toilet sometimes (maybe he's not

quite sure which clothes he needs to remove) and making sure he leaves

his inco pad behind.

Today, day 6 in his new nursing home, he was packing to leave He

was (understandably .. though I can see it from the staff point of

view too) angry. He'd been in the dining room having lunch while I

was sorting some clothes in the bedroom. He'd said he needed the

toilet and the staff had asked him to wait. He can't wait ... he's

got prostate probs and when he needs to go he needs to go. On the

other hand .... a handful of staff trying to feed quite a few very

dependent residents couldn't just leave them to see to him. He says

he's not going to go to the toilet at the time they say ,... it's

ridiculous and he's leaving.

Arghhhhhhhh ...... what do you do?

> >

> > 4ish (Aine, I think?)

> >

> > Dad did this all the time. He would randomly start stripping.

> Sometimes he thought it was bed time, and sometimes he said his

> clothes were uncomfortable. However, the most embarassing time was

> when my 19-year-old niece was visiting. Dad stripped completely and

> said he wanted to have sex.

> >

> > Margee

> >

> >

> > LO--Dad

> > Passed away 12-2-05

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

I am only thankful as you all describe this with your fathers or

husbands or FIL that it is my Mom I am taking care of. I don't know

if I could handle my Dad stripping or having to help him with his

depends. My brother has the same issue in regard to my Mom although

he's almost gotten past it some days. Depends on her level of

awareness!

The one funny story I remember about my Mom was when she had her

open heart surgery ( & again, on hindsight, probably had the

beginnings of LBD). She was a day or two past surgery and still had

a lot of lines in. My sister was coming to visit her and right

behind her in the hallway was the minister of my parent's church,

who was talking to my sister when they realized they were going the

same place. My sister walks in first and sees my Mom standing there

stark naked, with her gown down around her feet and she's all

wrapped up in the tubes. She was totally in a confused state. My

sister took one look and turned around and pushed the minister back

out the door and pretty much slammed it in his face! She apologized

later, of course, and he understood exactly why she did it. To this

day we have not told my mother in what state her minister saw her,

she would be mortified!! I don't think we ever even told my Dad

since we were afraid he'd give into temptation and tell her

sometime!!

It is a crazy disease, that's for sure. Good thing for laughter!

-- In LBDcaregivers , Zweibeers@... wrote:

>

>

>

> My husband is still at home and we have the problems you described

on and

> off. I try to listen to him so that I can come into the bathroom

and

> 'supervise' before things get out of hand. It is unbelievable at

times. He is trying

> to take off the Depends and his outer wear is still on, or as you

say, he is

> trying to get a pad. Of course, not all days are like this, some

days are

> ok. Up and down, up and down. Deep breaths..... Arlene

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Aine,

My husband is a stripper too, especially if he is not

changed on time. He lives at home, but I do take

respite and leave him in Assisted Living every year.

In Assisted Living where I leave him it is the

dementia wing and they have a locked hall, so at least

there are not families with small children visiting

like in the typical aging area where groups of

families visit. My husband believes he is the only one

that needs help and when he says jump, it's how high

can you jump. He is very demanding, so even at home I

have learned to turn a deaf ear towards him, or I

would be run ragged. I just make sure he is safe and

am there for his safety, but any other thing he may

think is priority can wait. He constantly has to pee.

I have him on the toilet and try to leave him there if

he will stay long enough, because you can bet as soon

as I get him off and into another room, he has to go

to the bathroom. Sometimes they just have to be

ignored, becauses there are other things to be done,

besides their demands. I am sure the people at the

facility where your dad stays are used to it and your

dad will just have to get used to it. You can bet he

is not the first they have had like him to deal with.

I think we worry more about how the staff can react to

their needs and how are their needs going to be met,

but some things we just need to let go of and let them

all work it out and somehow they all adjust. I know

it's frustrating to hear your dad say he's leaving,

but he will in time learn to routinely go or they will

learn they need to work around his pee times. It will

all work out, you'll see.

" To pee or not to pee, that is the question "

--- four4ish wrote:

> It looks like a lot of dad's " stripper " routine is

> caused by his

> problems with incontinence pads (which he hates with

> a vengeance) and

> trying to get to the toilet. He seems to be in an

> in-between stage

> where he's not really able to take himself to the

> toilet, but isn't

> quite incapable either ..... so he goes off by

> himself and gets in a

> mess. He's been stripping off in the toilet

> sometimes (maybe he's not

> quite sure which clothes he needs to remove) and

> making sure he leaves

> his inco pad behind.

>

> Today, day 6 in his new nursing home, he was packing

> to leave He

> was (understandably .. though I can see it from the

> staff point of

> view too) angry. He'd been in the dining room

> having lunch while I

> was sorting some clothes in the bedroom. He'd said

> he needed the

> toilet and the staff had asked him to wait. He

> can't wait ... he's

> got prostate probs and when he needs to go he needs

> to go. On the

> other hand .... a handful of staff trying to feed

> quite a few very

> dependent residents couldn't just leave them to see

> to him. He says

> he's not going to go to the toilet at the time they

> say ,... it's

> ridiculous and he's leaving.

>

> Arghhhhhhhh ...... what do you do?

>

>

>

>

> > >

> > > 4ish (Aine, I think?)

> > >

> > > Dad did this all the time. He would randomly

> start stripping.

> > Sometimes he thought it was bed time, and

> sometimes he said his

> > clothes were uncomfortable. However, the most

> embarassing time was

> > when my 19-year-old niece was visiting. Dad

> stripped completely and

> > said he wanted to have sex.

> > >

> > > Margee

> > >

> > >

> > > LO--Dad

> > > Passed away 12-2-05

> > >

> > >

> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

> > >

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>

Jan Colello, wife of Jim, dx w/Parkinsons 1993 and LBD 2003San Francisco Bay

Area, California

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Well, they are sad underneath it all, but I just try to see the

humour in it - I figure no one was hurt with this event and Mom

never knew - so we laugh instead! Too many really really sad events

otherwise.

> >

> >

> >

> > My husband is still at home and we have the problems you

described

> on and

> > off. I try to listen to him so that I can come into the

bathroom

> and

> > 'supervise' before things get out of hand. It is unbelievable

at

> times. He is trying

> > to take off the Depends and his outer wear is still on, or as

you

> say, he is

> > trying to get a pad. Of course, not all days are like this,

some

> days are

> > ok. Up and down, up and down. Deep breaths..... Arlene

> >

> >

> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Welcome to LBDcaregivers.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks Janet, for your advice and for making me laugh. I guess I'm

doing an awful lot of worrying and feeling guilty about dad at the

moment. I guess the staff will cope, and he will cope, and he's a

" man of many trousers " now, so the laundry should cope too I've

been so busy rushing around worrying about whether he's settling in,

that it's only just really occured to me that I also need a period of

settling to him being in his nursing home .... it's all new and

different to me too ..... OK,I can still come home at the end of the

day where he can't .. but it's not easy on this end of it either

> > > >

> > > > 4ish (Aine, I think?)

> > > >

> > > > Dad did this all the time. He would randomly

> > start stripping.

> > > Sometimes he thought it was bed time, and

> > sometimes he said his

> > > clothes were uncomfortable. However, the most

> > embarassing time was

> > > when my 19-year-old niece was visiting. Dad

> > stripped completely and

> > > said he wanted to have sex.

> > > >

> > > > Margee

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > LO--Dad

> > > > Passed away 12-2-05

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been

> > removed]

> > > >

> > >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

>

> Jan Colello, wife of Jim, dx w/Parkinsons 1993 and LBD 2003San

Francisco Bay Area, California

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

Yes, at least these guys aren't boring Thanks for the laugh .

> >

> >

> >

> > My husband is still at home and we have the problems you described

> on and

> > off. I try to listen to him so that I can come into the bathroom

> and

> > 'supervise' before things get out of hand. It is unbelievable at

> times. He is trying

> > to take off the Depends and his outer wear is still on, or as you

> say, he is

> > trying to get a pad. Of course, not all days are like this, some

> days are

> > ok. Up and down, up and down. Deep breaths..... Arlene

> >

> >

> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

> >

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Welcome to LBDcaregivers.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hey, I try. :-)

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > My husband is still at home and we have the problems you

described

> > on and

> > > off. I try to listen to him so that I can come into the

bathroom

> > and

> > > 'supervise' before things get out of hand. It is

unbelievable at

> > times. He is trying

> > > to take off the Depends and his outer wear is still on, or

as you

> > say, he is

> > > trying to get a pad. Of course, not all days are like this,

some

> > days are

> > > ok. Up and down, up and down. Deep breaths..... Arlene

> > >

> > >

> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

> > >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Welcome to LBDcaregivers.

> >

> >

> >