Dementia and Calling Multiple People Multiple Times a Day (50+ calls within a few hours)

[Anonymous]

We are running into this with my father who can call upwards of 50+ times a day. His sister has expressed to him that she doesn’t want him to continue to call her. He does not remember calling but I am struggling with how to approach this. Oftentimes during the work day my voicemail box will fill up.

Without taking away the cell phone, is there anything you have tried that helps ease the memory that you have spoken to the person?

[Anonymous]

She can block his number or block it during certain times of day.

[Anonymous]

Where is he living? That's a lot much more important going on here than phone calls. Need more information.

[Anonymous]

My grandmother would do this. But she was in an assisted living so we would have to call them to have them get her to leave her room and do something other than make phone calls. Where does your father live?

[Anonymous]

Op here. Thank you all - he is currently in a senior living apartment with rotating assistance care.

[Anonymous]

I would think maybe the assistants aren't showing up as scheduled or aren't supervising him well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My grandmother would do this. But she was in an assisted living so we would have to call them to have them get her to leave her room and do something other than make phone calls. Where does your father live?

Thanks PP! He does have “work” at the facility and activities but he still manages — I think it’s because he doesn’t take a break between calls. So when there is no answer within minutes he dials it again.

[Anonymous]

Get a raz memory phone for him. You can block incoming and/ or outgoing calls, put in silent hours, etc.

[Anonymous]

Take away his phone.

Call him.

Route his calls to voicemail.

Medicate.

[Anonymous]

Is he agitated when he can't reach someone? Or does he just happily try calling again? Do you ever need him to really call you, or are you able to communicate another way? I ask because maybe you could get a burner phone with prepaid minutes and then set your contact info in his phone to call that number. Then just leave it plugged in at home.

[Anonymous]

Would an alarm clock work? He can only call when the alarm clock goes off. So, at 10am? But honestly, I would block him. If anything happens to him, his care team would reach you anyways.

[Anonymous]

Thanks PPs! I’ll look into these options. Yes to the one PP who asked, he does get agitated when he cannot get anyone to answer and then of course begins to think someone is spying into his phone. For example, even with the jobs he’s given around the facility he’s managed to call 13 times and it’s only 1pm. I know the familiarity of having the cell phone may be soothing but perhaps I can as mentioned, set numbers to burner phones or block if it causes some frustration.

[Anonymous]

My MIL called my DH several times a day, often at work due to time difference. Poor guy's life was so miserable.

[Anonymous]

With my Mom, Id block her number for most of the day. Then unblock for a few hours to take her call, then block again.
Or you can try, TeleCalm

https://www.telecalmprotects.com/alzheimers-dementia-caregiver-how-to-stop-problem-phone-calls/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With my Mom, Id block her number for most of the day. Then unblock for a few hours to take her call, then block again.
Or you can try, TeleCalm

https://www.telecalmprotects.com/alzheimers-dementia-caregiver-how-to-stop-problem-phone-calls/

This. The dementia will progress so he will not be able to use a phone and the problem will take care of itself. You can also ask his doctor to prescribe anti-anxiety medication.