--- title: "When a parent asks the same question over and over" description: "Repetitive questioning in dementia and MCI: what drives it, replies that reduce it, and the environmental changes that help most." lang: en-GB json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://youcarereminders.co.uk/#organization", "name": "You Care Reminders", "url": "https://youcarereminders.co.uk", "email": "hello@youcarereminders.co.uk", "areaServed": "GB" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://youcarereminders.co.uk/#website", "name": "You Care Reminders", "url": "https://youcarereminders.co.uk", "publisher": { "@id": "https://youcarereminders.co.uk/#organization" }, "inLanguage": "en-GB" } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "Should I keep answering, or ignore it?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Keep answering, briefly. Ignoring raises anxiety and usually increases the frequency." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Does writing it down really help?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "For many people yes, particularly earlier on. It gives them a way to self-answer without having to ask, which protects their dignity as well as your patience." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is repetition always dementia?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "No. Anxiety, hearing loss, and mild cognitive impairment all produce it. A GP assessment is the right way to find out which." } } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://youcarereminders.co.uk/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Dementia care at home", "item": "https://youcarereminders.co.uk/dementia-care-at-home" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "The same question, over and over", "item": "https://youcarereminders.co.uk/parent-repeats-the-same-question" } ] } ] --- [You Care Reminders Caregiver Support ](/) [Home](/)[How it works](/features)[Pricing](/pricing)[Guides](/guides)[FAQ](/faq)[Contact](/contact) [Sign in](/login)[Get started](/signup) 1. [Home](/) 2. [Dementia care at home](/dementia-care-at-home) 3. The same question, over and over Repetition # The same question, over and over By the twelfth time it is hard to stay warm about it. Understanding what the question is really asking makes it easier, and often makes it stop sooner. Short answer Repetition is usually anxiety looking for reassurance, not a request for information. Answer the feeling, keep the reply short and identical each time, and put the answer somewhere visible so the question has somewhere else to go. [Begin caring today for free](/signup)[How it works](/features) ## Hear the question underneath "What time is the appointment?" often means "am I going to be alright?". "When are you going?" often means "I don't want to be on my own". Answering the surface question restarts the loop; answering the worry usually shortens it. A calm, unhurried tone does more than the words. Frustration in your voice raises anxiety, which increases repetition. ## Keep the answer identical Varying the wording makes the answer feel new and unresolved. The same short sentence, in the same tone, every time, is easier to settle into. Short matters too. Long explanations exceed what can be held onto and often make things worse. ## Give the question somewhere to land - A whiteboard in the kitchen with today's one fact written large. - A day-and-date clock so time questions have a visible answer. - A note on the door: "Jane is coming at 2pm". - A card by the phone with your name and number on it. ## Protecting yourself This is one of the most wearing parts of caring, and it is a common reason carers reach burnout. Leaving the room for two minutes is legitimate. A carer's assessment through the council is a legal right and can unlock respite. ## Being straight with you You Care Reminders is a non-medical wellness tool, not a monitoring service and not an alarm. Delivery is best effort rather than guaranteed, and it must not be used for medication reminders. If you are worried about someone's health, speak to their GP; in an emergency, call 999. ## Questions carers ask ### Should I keep answering, or ignore it? ### Does writing it down really help? ### Is repetition always dementia? ## Read next - [Memory aids for dementia](/memory-aids-for-dementia) - [Carer burnout: early signs](/carer-burnout-early-signs) - [Carer's assessment](/carers-assessment) - [What is a dementia clock?](/what-is-a-dementia-clock) ## Set the first reminder tonight It takes about five minutes, costs nothing to start, and the person you care for has nothing to install. [Begin caring today for free](/signup)[See plans](/pricing) You Care Reminders Thoughtful reminders that help families stay quietly connected to the people they love. Wellness support, not medical advice. 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