Your uncle with dementia might be licking stamps that aren’t sticky due to a condition called pica. Pica is when someone eats things that aren’t food, and it can happen to people with dementia[14].
When someone has dementia, their brain doesn’t work like it used to. They might forget that modern stamps don’t need to be licked, or they might be remembering old habits from when stamps did need licking[4]. It’s like their brain is stuck in the past.
Sometimes, people with dementia do strange things with their mouths. They might put objects in their mouth or try to eat things that aren’t food[14]. This could be why your uncle is licking stamps, even if they’re not the kind that needs licking.
Another reason could be that your uncle is trying to do something familiar. Licking stamps might remind him of when he used to send letters. Doing familiar tasks can be comforting for people with dementia, even if they’re not doing them quite right[4].
It’s also possible that your uncle is just confused. Dementia can make it hard to understand what things are for[6]. He might see the stamps and think they need to be licked, even if they don’t.
If you’re worried about your uncle licking stamps, you could try giving him something safe to lick or chew on instead. Some people with dementia like having sensory activities to do with their hands and mouth[13].
Remember, people with dementia often do things that seem strange to us. It’s not their fault – it’s because of changes in their brain. The best thing you can do is to keep your uncle safe and try to understand why he might be doing these things.
