Repetitive Questioning in Elderly

When a loved one has dementia, they often ask the same question many times over. Even the most patient person in the world can find this difficult to deal with and relationships can become very strained

It is important to understand the many reasons why this happens, in order to be able to handle the situation better:

1. Short-term memory impairment leads to an alteration in a person’s ability to store experience, which means they make repeated requests for information. Having heard the answer, they instantly lose the information and ask again. As dementia worsens, they forget not only the answer, but that they have ever asked the question before
2. Perseveration is sign frontal lobe damage meaning questions, words and ideas stick…this is also known as ‘stuck needle syndrome’. The person cannot move on from what they are asking and so ask the same question repeatedly
3. Boredom can also cause repetitive questioning. If the person is deprived of mental stimulation, they start asking the same questions to alleviate their boredom
4. Need for human contact can also lead to repeated questions, as the older person tries to engage another in conversation for longer in their desire for human contact
5. Receptive aphasia is an inability to understand what is being said, so that often responses are jumbled or do not make sense
6. Hearing difficulties can often be mistaken for dementia. They can often repeat themselves just because they have not been able to hear what has just been said
7. Need for security can make people repeat questions so they can cling to the reassuring presence of the other person and their answers
8. An attempt to communicate can lead a person to repeat questions, because the answers they are getting are possibly not what they want to hear, such as ‘When can I go home?’ or ‘Where is my wife?’. In this situation, the person is looking for security in the answers given

Methods to cope with repetitive questioning

Use calendars

• You can help your parent to process information and understand what to expect from their day. You can mention the date, hang a calendar by the bed, in the bathroom and in the lounge and mark each day
• You can try listing the day, date and planned activities or appointments on an erasable whiteboard Your parent can better understand their day if you display it written down

Change the subject. You can try changing the subject to a new topic. Could you share a story about their grandchildren or talk about a favourite hobby?  Changing the subject might get their mind off of their repetitive question

Identify the cause. You may be an underlying reason for their questions. Are they pre-occupied with a forthcoming event. For example, if they are asking what time or maybe they are anxious about being left alone. You can reassure them that even if you go out, they will be OK

Reduce confusion. You can track the repetition for a few days. Does it increase at certain times of the day or with a certain number of people around? If so, try to occupy them with new activities during those times of day and keep the number of people to a minimum

Schedule a break.  You can reduce your own stress level by inviting a visitor, or watching a regular television show before you lose your cool. Don’t forget – you too may need support once in a while.