People with dementia often misplace items and become distressed because the parts of their brain responsible for memory and spatial awareness are affected. Dementia causes changes in brain cells that make it difficult to remember recent events, where things are, or how to retrace steps. This means they might put objects in unusual places and then cannot find them later, leading to confusion and frustration.
When someone with dementia loses the ability to remember where they put something, they may try to search for it repeatedly, which can increase their anxiety. They might also become upset because they don’t understand why the item is missing or feel overwhelmed by their surroundings. Sometimes, this distress is worsened by their inability to communicate what they need or by feeling unsafe in an unfamiliar or cluttered environment.
Additionally, dementia can cause people to misinterpret what they see or experience. For example, they might mistake non-food items for food or forget the purpose of everyday objects, which can lead to placing things in odd spots. These behaviors are not intentional but stem from the brain’s declining ability to process and organize information.
Caregivers can help by keeping important items in consistent, easy-to-remember places and by providing calm reassurance when the person becomes upset. Understanding that these behaviors are part of the disease helps reduce frustration for both the person with dementia and those around them.
