Why is my mother with dementia terrified of her own house, calling it a prison?

Dementia can drastically change how a person perceives their environment, even familiar places like their own home. Your mother’s fear of her house and feeling like it’s a prison is a common experience for many people with dementia.

As dementia progresses, it affects the brain’s ability to process and interpret sensory information. This can make once-familiar surroundings seem strange, unfamiliar, or even threatening. Your mother may no longer recognize her home or understand why she’s there, leading to feelings of being trapped or confined.

The disease can also cause confusion about time and place. Your mother might think she’s in a different period of her life, expecting to be in a childhood home rather than her current house. When reality doesn’t match these expectations, it can be frightening and disorienting.

Dementia often brings changes in visual perception too. Shadows, reflections, or patterns on walls and floors can appear distorted or threatening. What looks like a normal carpet to you might seem like a dangerous hole or barrier to your mother.

Memory loss plays a role as well. Your mother may forget that she lives in this house, or may not remember how she got there. This can make her feel like she’s been placed somewhere against her will, hence the “prison” feeling.

Anxiety and paranoia are common symptoms of dementia. These can amplify any feelings of unease about the environment, making your mother more likely to interpret her surroundings as threatening or confining.

The loss of independence that often comes with dementia can contribute to these feelings too. If your mother is no longer able to leave the house freely due to safety concerns, this restriction can reinforce the sense of being imprisoned.

To help your mother feel more comfortable, try to maintain a calm, reassuring environment. Keep the house well-lit to reduce shadows. Use familiar objects and photos to help orient her. Establish routines to provide a sense of predictability and security. Most importantly, respond to her fears with patience and empathy, even if they don’t make sense to you. Remember, her feelings are very real to her.

If these feelings persist or worsen, it’s important to consult with her doctor. They may be able to suggest strategies or treatments to help manage these symptoms and improve your mother’s quality of life[13].